Saturday 31 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. 18733Possession of cocaine · Co. Donegal

Man fined for cocaine possession in Donegal Town hotel room

Gardaí responded to a report of suspected drug activity in a bedroom at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town and obtained a warrant to search Room 126. Paul McCauley, a 20-year-old man, was one of the occupants of that room, and he handed over a small bag of powder that he said was cocaine, which analysis confirmed as cocaine worth €50. The incident date is not stated. He was due to appear before Donegal District Court on Wednesday, as reported on 3 January 2024, but did not appear, and the judge recorded the facts as proven and imposed a €150 fine in his absence, with recognisance of €100 cash and a €100 bond set in the event of an appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 20-year-old man was found with cocaine in a hotel room in Donegal Town.
  • The man handed over a small bag of powder that he said was cocaine.
  • Analysis confirmed the substance was cocaine worth €50.
Where
The drugs were found in a bedroom in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town.
When
The date of the incident is not stated in the sources.
Investigation
  • Gardaí responded to a report of suspected drug activity in a hotel bedroom.
  • A warrant to search Room 126 was obtained, and Paul McCauley was an occupant of the room.
In court
  • Paul McCauley was due to appear before Donegal District Court on Wednesday.
  • The court heard that he had no previous convictions and that he had been notified of the court date.
  • The case proceeded in his absence after he failed to appear.
Sentence
  • The judge recorded the facts as proven and imposed a fine of €150.
  • The judge set recognisance of €100 cash and a €100 bond in the event of an appeal.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was caught with cocaine in a hotel room in Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe defendant handed over a small bag of powder that he said was cocaine. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatAnalysis confirmed the substance was cocaine worth €50. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were found in a bedroom in the Abbey Hotel. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí responded to a report of suspected drug activity in a hotel bedroom. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA warrant to search Room 126 was obtained. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe defendant was due to appear before Donegal District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge recorded the facts as proven and imposed a fine of €150. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set recognisance of €100 cash and a €100 bond in the event of an appeal. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jan2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Defendant caught with cocaine in Donegal hotel room

    First report of this case. Adds the court outcome: a €150 fine imposed in the defendant's absence, with recognisance set in the event of an appeal.

    convicted, Paul McCauley, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul McCauley