Ireland Man jailed for 13 years over €10.6 million cocaine found in Kilkenny lorry
On 18 March 2025, gardaí stopped and searched an articulated lorry in Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny, and found 152kg of cocaine in a secret compartment, valued at €10.6 million to €10.67 million depending on the source. Michael Murphy, a 61-year-old man with an address in Co. Waterford, was arrested after the search and later pleaded guilty at Kilkenny Circuit Court to importing controlled drugs for sale or supply. On 4 August 2026 he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, reduced from a headline sentence of 18 years for mitigation, with the sentence backdated to March 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Aug
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Murphy, a 61-year-old man, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for importing cocaine.
- Forensic analysis confirmed 152kg of cocaine, with a street value given as €10.67 million in one source and €10.6 million in the headline.
- Where
- The cocaine was found in an articulated lorry stopped and searched in Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny.
- One article describes the seizure as taking place at a Kilkenny petrol station, while the other places it in Paulstown.
- When
- Murphy was the driver of the lorry on 18 March 2025.
- Cause
- The discovery followed a Europe-wide surveillance operation targeting vehicles arriving into Irish ports, run by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
- Weapon
- No weapon is mentioned in the facts.
- Investigation
- Murphy was arrested after the lorry was searched.
- Charges
- Murphy pleaded guilty to importing controlled drugs for sale or supply.
- In court
- Murphy was sentenced at Kilkenny Circuit Court on 4 August 2026.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of 18 years, reduced to 13 years after mitigation.
- The sentence is backdated to March 2025, when Murphy went into custody, and the court ordered forfeiture and destruction of the trailer and the drugs seized.
- Other details
- Murphy was the transport manager of Herriot Haulage and was previously convicted of importing narcotics in Bruges in 2022.
- Mitigation included Murphy's age, his early guilty plea and a good prison governor's report.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Murphy was sentenced to 13 years in prison for importing cocaine. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatForensic analysis confirmed 152kg of cocaine with a street value of €10.67 million. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereThe cocaine was found in a truck stopped and searched in Paulstown. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereMurphy was arrested after the truck was searched. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whenMurphy was the driver of the truck on March 18, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationThe discovery followed a Europe-wide surveillance operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeMurphy pleaded guilty to importing controlled drugs for sale or supply. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtMurphy was sentenced at Kilkenny Circuit Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said the headline sentence was 18 years, reduced to 13 years after mitigation. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence is backdated to when Murphy went into custody in March 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe court ordered forfeiture and destruction of the trailer and the drugs seized. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherMurphy was the transport manager of Herriot Haulage. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherMurphy was previously convicted of importing narcotics in Bruges in 2022. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherMitigation included Murphy's age, early guilty plea and a good prison governor's report. (kilkennypeople.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Aug2026Man discovered in Kilkenny with €10.6 million cocaine stash jailed for 13 years
Sentencing report: Murphy received 13 years after a headline sentence of 18 years was reduced for mitigation. The sentence is backdated to March 2025, and a court ordered forfeiture and destruction of the trailer and drugs. The article also gives his previous conviction in Bruges in 2022.
convicted, Michael Murphy, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murphy