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. 17067Possession of cocaine · Co. Laois · 30 Dec 2023

Man convicted in absence of cocaine possession in Portlaoise

Alexander Berko (34) of 1 Hinds Square, Portlaoise, was accused of having cocaine for personal use at Hinds Square on December 30, 2023, after being caught with €70 worth of cocaine. He had been due to make a €350 contribution to the poor box, but he did not appear at Portlaoise District Court. Judge Nicola Andrews convicted him in his absence and imposed a €1,000 fine with six months to pay. The latest development is that this conviction and fine were reported in a June 2, 2024 article.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Alexander Berko (34), a man, was accused of having cocaine for personal use.
  • He had been caught with €70 worth of cocaine.
Where
The alleged offence took place at Hinds Square, Portlaoise, County Laois.
When
The alleged offence occurred on December 30, 2023.
Charges
He was accused of possessing cocaine for personal use.
In court
  • He had been due to make a €350 contribution to the poor box.
  • He did not appear at Portlaoise District Court.
  • Judge Nicola Andrews said the default position was a conviction and fine.
Sentence
Judge Nicola Andrews convicted him in his absence and imposed a €1,000 fine, with six months to pay.
Other details
  • The archive dates the article May 31, 2024, but its byline says it was published June 2, 2024.
  • A separate case, number 15962, concerns obstruction of gardaí at Tower Hill on July 15 and is not this incident.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was fined €1,000 for cocaine possession. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe had been caught with €70 worth of cocaine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence was alleged to have happened at Hinds Square, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence occurred on December 30, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was accused of having cocaine for personal use. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHe had been due to make a €350 contribution to the poor box. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant did not appear at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the default position was a conviction and fine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge convicted him in his absence and imposed a €1,000 fine with six months to pay. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 May2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man convicted in his absence of having cocaine in Laois

    Reports a separate cocaine possession case. It is not the same incident as existing case 15962, which concerns obstruction of gardaí on July 15 at Tower Hill.

    convicted, Alexander Berko, 34, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alexander Berko