Ireland Man jailed after State appeal over €400,000 cannabis case in Athy, Kildare
In April 2023, drugs with an estimated value of €399,470 were found at AutoChem, Unit 9, Block F, Athy Business Campus, Athy, Co Kildare. Jason Tuthill (51), described by the sources as a Laois man from Barrowhouse, pleaded guilty and was convicted under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. In May 2025 Naas Courthouse imposed three years fully suspended, but the DPP appealed as unduly lenient and the Court of Appeal ruled that full suspension was an error in principle. On 28 January 2026 Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy quashed that sentence and resentenced him to five years with the final two and a half years suspended, meaning he will serve two and a half years in prison.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jan
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jason Tuthill (51) pleaded guilty to having 17kg of cannabis and three kilos of cannabis herb.
- The case involved 20 kilos of cannabis with an estimated value of €399,470.
- Where
- The drugs were found at AutoChem, Unit 9, Block F, Athy Business Campus, Athy, Co Kildare.
- Tuthill is from Barrowhouse, on the Kildare/Laois border, and the sources describe him as a Laois man.
- When
- The offence took place on 27 April 2023.
- Charges
- Tuthill pleaded guilty and was convicted under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- In court
- In May 2025 Naas Courthouse imposed a sentence of three years fully suspended.
- The DPP appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal ruled that fully suspending it was an error in principle.
- On 28 January 2026 Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy quashed the original sentence and resentenced Tuthill.
- Sentence
- The court set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years with the final two and a half years suspended.
- Cause
- The defence said Tuthill and his family were threatened after he failed to pay back a debt.
- Other details
- The court accepted the threats as mitigation, and the sources say Tuthill had no previous convictions.
- The defence said Tuthill fully cooperated and made full admissions to gardaí.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTuthill pleaded guilty to having 17kgs of cannabis and three kilos of cannabis herb. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe case involved 20 kilos of cannabis worth an estimated €399,470. (leinsterexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- whatThe Court of Appeal upheld the argument that the original sentence was unduly lenient. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe drugs were found at AutoChem, Unit 9, Block F, Athy Business Campus. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe cannabis was found in Athy, Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whereTuthill is from Barrowhouse, on the Kildare/Laois border. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe offence took place on April 27, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence on Wednesday, January 28. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe offence took place at Athy Business Campus on April 27, 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeTuthill was convicted under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty and was convicted under Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe DPP appealed the original sentence as unduly lenient. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy quashed the original sentence on 28 January 2026 and resentenced Tuthill. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe original sentence was imposed at Naas Courthouse in May 2025 as three years fully suspended. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe court ruled it was an error in principle to fully suspend the sentence. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceTuthill was originally sentenced in May 2025 at Naas Courthouse to three years fully suspended. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe court set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years, with the final two and a half years suspended. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was replaced with five years, the final two and a half years suspended. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceThe court set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe court accepted that Tuthill and his family had been threatened after he failed to pay back a debt, as mitigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe respondent had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe defence said Tuthill and his family had been threatened after he failed to pay back a debt. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe defence said Tuthill fully cooperated and made full admissions to gardaí. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jan2026Man caught with €400,000 worth of drugs in Kildare is jailed after state appeals sentence
Reports the Court of Appeal's undue leniency ruling on 28 January 2026, which increased the sentence from three years fully suspended to five years with two and a half years suspended. Gives the original sentence and the court's reasoning.
convicted, Jason Tuthill, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Tuthill - 28 Jan2026Laois man caught with €400,000 worth of drugs jailed after state appeals sentence
Reports the Court of Appeal's resentencing on 28 January 2026 after a DPP undue leniency appeal against the original sentence of three years fully suspended, imposed in May 2025 at Naas Courthouse. The offence location is Athy, Co Kildare, although the article is tagged Laois.
convicted, Jason Tuthill, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Tuthill