Wednesday 28 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. 5722Drug trafficking (heroin, cocaine and cannabis) · Co. Dublin · 6 Jun 2024

Man charged with €305,000 drug possession at Saggart home

Clive McCowan, 44, of Millrace Park, Saggart, west Dublin, was arrested after gardaí searched his home under warrant at about 11pm on Thursday 6 June 2024 and seized drugs valued at €300,000 to €305,000, mainly heroin. He was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin, and with having them for sale or supply. On Saturday 8 June 2024 he appeared before Judge Grainne Malone at Dublin District Court, where gardaí objected to bail, and he was remanded in custody with consent to bail pending lodgement of money and surety approval.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested6 Jun
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court8 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized drugs worth €300,000 in one account and €305,000 in another.
  • About 2kg of suspected heroin was seized, which one account gives as 2.16 kilos, and the heroin had still to be cut.
  • Heroin was concealed in parcels with Hermes Paris labels, under a child's paddling pool in the garden and in a bag in a toy room.
  • Smaller quantities of suspected cannabis and cocaine were also seized, valued at €500 and €1,500 respectively in one account.
  • Phone evidence showed drug sale and supply, sourcing, cash collection, debt collecting and discussion of wholesale market values.
Where
The search took place at a house in Millrace Park, Saggart, County Dublin.
When
The search took place on Thursday evening, 6 June 2024, at about 11pm.
Investigation
  • Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team searched the house under warrant, with help from the Garda Dog Unit.
  • A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Dublin.
  • The seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
  • He was interviewed three times, responding in the first two and making no comment in the third.
Charges
Clive McCowan was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin, and with having the drugs for sale or supply, at his home.
In court
  • He appeared at Dublin District Court on Saturday 8 June 2024 before Judge Grainne Malone, and Garda Sarah Flood objected to bail citing the seriousness of the case.
  • Bail was set at a €5,000 bond with a €15,000 independent surety, and he must sign on daily at a Garda station on release.
Other details
Gardaí may bring further charges but first need directions from the DPP, and investigations are ongoing.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized drugs worth €300,000 during a search operation. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized 2kg of suspected heroin and smaller quantities of suspected cannabis and cocaine. (garda.ie)
  • whatHeroin, cannabis and cocaine worth €300,000 were seized. (dublinlive.ie)
  • what2kg of suspected heroin was found concealed in parcels with Hermes Paris labels. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatSmaller quantities of suspected cannabis and cocaine were also seized. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatClive McCowan was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin and having the drugs for sale or supply (irishmirror.ie)
  • what2.16 kilos of heroin worth just over €300,000 were found (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCannabis was valued at €500 (irishmirror.ie)
  • what€1,500 worth of cocaine was found (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe total drug seizure was worth €305,000 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHeroin was hidden under a child's paddling pool in the garden (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAn uncut block of diamorphine was found in a children's toy room concealed in a bag (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe cocaine and cannabis were packaged for sale or supply (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPhone evidence showed sale and supply of drugs, sourcing, collection of cash, debt collecting and discussing market values for wholesale (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe heroin had still to be cut down and would be worth more on the street (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a house in Saggart, County Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were seized from a house in Saggart, west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were found at his home in Millrace Park, Saggart (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHe was detained at Ronanstown Garda station (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Thursday evening, 6 June 2024, at approximately 11pm. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe seizure happened at around 11pm on a Thursday night. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team conducted the search under warrant. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Dog Unit assisted with the search. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA man aged in his 40s was arrested at the scene and is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team conducted a search under warrant at the house. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOne man in his 40s was arrested at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAll the drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationHe was interviewed three times, responding during the first two and making no comment during the third (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí could bring further charges but first need to obtain directions from the DPP (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was held on bail set at €5,000 with a €15,000 independent surety (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded in custody with consent to bail pending lodgement of money and surety approval (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe must sign on daily at a Garda station on release (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Grainne Malone (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGarda Sarah Flood of the Dublin Crime Response Team objected to bail citing the seriousness of the case (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherHe was caught red-handed in his house (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Jun2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai 'found blocks of heroin hidden under paddling pool and in toy room'

    Court heard details of how drugs were concealed in the home, including under a paddling pool and in a toy room; phone evidence of drug dealing recovered; bail conditions set with €5,000 bond and €15,000 surety.

    accused, Clive McCowan, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Clive McCowan
  2. 7 Jun2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man arrested after major heroin haul seized from west Dublin house

    Reports the arrest of a man in his 40s at the Saggart house and values the seizure at €300,000. The existing case records a charge and a €305,000 value.

    suspect, 40s, male
  3. 6 Jun2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara: €300,000 Heroin Seized and Arrest, Saggart, Co. Dublin, 6th June 2024

    Official Garda press release giving the seizure value (€300,000), the 2kg suspected heroin quantity, Dog Unit assistance and FSI analysis. It names no one and records only the arrest, not a charge.

    suspect, 40s, male