Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 16387Possession of controlled drugs; possession of drugs for unlawful sale or supply · Co. Limerick · 31 Jul 2024

Man charged over Limerick City drug search, Nenagh District Court

Gardaí from the Mayorstone Crime Unit, working under Operation Tara, searched residential locations in St Mary's Park, Limerick City, on Wednesday 31 July and Thursday 1 August 2024, seizing drugs and €250,000 in cash. A man in his thirties was arrested, and a woman in her fifties was also arrested and remains in garda custody. Nigel Braddish, of St Mary's Park, was charged with possession of controlled drugs and possession of drugs for unlawful sale or supply, and appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan at a special sitting of Nenagh District Court on Friday 2 August 2024, where he was remanded on his own bond of €200. The matter was put back to 18 October 2024 for DPP instructions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 Aug
  3. Charged2 Aug
  4. In court2 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized suspected cannabis worth about €100,000 in a search under warrant on Wednesday 31 July.
  • A follow-up search on Thursday 1 August seized suspected cocaine worth about €100,000 and €250,000 in cash.
  • Reports give the total drugs seizure as €200,000 or €220,000, while others give €420,000 of cannabis, cocaine and heroin, plus €250,000 in cash.
Where
The searches took place at residential locations in St Mary's Park, Limerick City.
When
  • The first search was on Wednesday 31 July 2024 and the follow-up search was on Thursday 1 August 2024.
  • A detective garda told the court the man was arrested on 31 July 2024, while another report says the arrest followed searches across 31 July and 1 August.
Investigation
  • The seizures were part of Operation Tara, run by gardaí from Mayorstone Crime Unit, and were assisted by the Garda Armed Support Unit and Garda Dog Unit.
  • The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
  • A man in his thirties was arrested, and a woman in her fifties was also arrested and remains in garda custody in relation to the same incident.
Charges
Nigel Braddish was charged with possession of controlled drugs and possession of drugs for unlawful sale or supply, contrary to sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
In court
  • Nigel Braddish appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan at a special sitting of Nenagh District Court on Friday 2 August 2024 and reportedly replied "I apologise" to both charges.
  • Gardaí made no objection to bail if the defendant followed the court's conditions, and Judge Brennan remanded him on his own bond of €200.
  • The matter was put back to 18 October 2024, with consent for DPP instructions.
Other details
A man in his late teens was also arrested in the same investigation, according to one report, and was not charged in that report.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized suspected cannabis valued at approximately €100,000 in the first search. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatIn the follow-up search, gardaí seized suspected cocaine worth an estimated €100,000 and €250,000 in cash. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized cannabis, heroin and cocaine worth an estimated €420,000, along with €250,000 in cash. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized cannabis valued at around €100,000 during a search under warrant on Wednesday. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatOn Thursday, a follow-up search seized suspected cocaine worth €100,000 and €250,000 in cash. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatA further Thursday search seized quantities of cocaine, cannabis and heroin. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe searches took place at residential locations in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereAll raids and subsequent seizures were carried out in the St Mary’s Park area of Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereMore than €220,000 of cannabis, cocaine and heroin was seized at a home in St Mary's Park, Limerick city, on Thursday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe search covered several residential locations in the St Mary’s Park area of Limerick City. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe first search under warrant was carried out on Wednesday 31 July. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenA follow-up search was carried out on Thursday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe raids took place across Wednesday and Thursday of that week. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe defendant was arrested on 31 July 2024. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tara, and officers from Mayorstone Crime Unit arrested a man in his thirties. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were assisted by the Garda Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (limerickleader.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe raids were carried out as part of Operation Tara. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations into the seizures are ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí had earlier arrested the man in connection with a search operation across Wednesday 31 July and Thursday 1 August. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 50s remains in garda custody in relation to the same incident. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationCocaine and cannabis worth an estimated €200,000 and €250,000 in cash were seized after gardaí executed a search warrant on a number of homes on Wednesday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationSuspected cocaine worth an estimated €100,000 and €250,000 in cash were seized in a follow-up search the next day. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe case is part of Operation Tara, run by gardaí attached to Mayorstone Crime Unit. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized suspected cocaine and cannabis worth an estimated €200,000 and €250,000 in cash, and arrested one man in his 30s. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe arrested man has since been charged. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeA man in his 30s has been charged in relation to a €220,000 drugs seizure in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeNigel Braddish was charged with possession of controlled drugs and possession of drugs for unlawful sale or supply. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe charged man was due before a special sitting of Nenagh District Court on the Friday afternoon. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before a special sitting of Nenagh District Court on Friday 2 August. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan at a special sitting of Nenagh District Court. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtGardaí made no objection to bail if the defendant followed the court's conditions. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe matter was put back to 18 October 2024, with consent for DPP instructions. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Brennan remanded the defendant on his own bond of €200. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in the Limerick area. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherOne man was arrested in connection with the raids, with searches assisted by the Garda Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherA woman in her 50s was arrested in connection with the raids and remained in custody. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Aug2024
    In courttipperarylive.ie, first report
    Man charged in connection with major Limerick drug operation at Nenagh District Court

    Names the man charged (Nigel Braddish), gives the charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, the court appearance and bail terms, and details the seizures in the Operation Tara search at St Mary's Park. Also notes a woman in her 50s and a man in his late teens arrested in the same investigation, who are not charged in this article.

    accused, Nigel Braddish, 30s, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nigel Braddish
  2. 2 Aug2024
    Chargedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Man charged with €220k drug seizure in Limerick city appears in court

    Second garda update on the search operation of 31 July and 1 August 2024. Reports the man's charge and court date, a woman in her 50s held in custody, and that the drugs will be sent for analysis.

    accused, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, female
  3. 2 Aug2024
    In courtlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Man to appear in court in connection with massive drug seizure in Limerick City

    First report of the St Mary’s Park raids and seizures, with details of the man charged and the woman arrested.

    accused, malesuspect, 50s, female
  4. 1 Aug2024
    Arrestedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    BREAKING: Man arrested as gardai make huge drugs and cash seizure in Limerick city

    Adds that the arrested man was in his thirties and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, describes the follow-up search on Thursday, says the searches were assisted by the Garda Armed Support Unit and Garda Dog Unit, and notes the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland. The man is not named.

    suspect, thirties, male