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. 5644Possession of cannabis for sale or supply · Co. Dublin · 23 Oct 2020

Man jailed for role in €6m cannabis transport in Swords, Co Dublin

In October 2020, Ryon Fitzpatrick (34) was arrested with two other men as they prepared to enter a derelict field in north county Dublin, where a van carrying cannabis hidden in shoeboxes had been intercepted. Co-accused Anthony Kinghorn (51) pleaded guilty and was jailed for eight years in 2021, and Mark Nesbitt (53) was found guilty by a jury after a 2022 trial and jailed for eight years. Fitzpatrick, who was arrested and questioned but not charged, was later arrested in Spain and extradited to Ireland, then pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. In June 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he was jailed for 6½ years, with the final 2½ suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man was caught helping to transport €6 million worth of cannabis hidden in a fake shoebox consignment.
  • The drugs came into the country in a shipment from Bilbao, Spain, and were intercepted by customs officials.
Where
  • The offence took place on October 23, 2020, at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, Co Dublin.
  • Fitzpatrick and two other men were arrested as they prepared to enter a derelict field in north county Dublin.
Cause
Fitzpatrick drove an accompanying lookout car travelling in convoy with the van.
Investigation
  • Gardaí arranged a controlled delivery of the drugs to a logistics centre in Dublin, which was put under surveillance.
  • Fitzpatrick was arrested and questioned but not charged, later moved to Spain, was arrested there and was extradited to Ireland.
Charges
Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply.
In court
  • A total of 304kg of cannabis was found in shoeboxes in the van, with an estimated street value of €6,080,000.
  • Judge Pauline Codd said it was a serious crime involving a serious amount of drugs.
Sentence
  • Fitzpatrick was jailed for 6½ years, after the judge set a headline sentence of 11½ years and reduced it to nine after mitigation.
  • The final 2½ years of Fitzpatrick's sentence were suspended on several conditions.
Other details
  • A small amount of cocaine was found in Fitzpatrick's car.
  • Gardaí believe Fitzpatrick was at around the mid-level of a criminal gang, and he has 13 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was caught helping to transport €6 million worth of cannabis hidden in a fake shoebox consignment. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe drugs came into the country in a shipment from Bilbao, Spain, and were intercepted by customs officials. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereFitzpatrick and two other men were arrested as they prepared to enter a derelict field in north county Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offence took place at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence took place on October 23, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeFitzpatrick drove an accompanying lookout car travelling in convoy with the van. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationFitzpatrick was arrested and questioned but not charged, and later moved to Spain. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arranged a controlled delivery of the drugs to a logistics centre in Dublin, which was put under surveillance. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA total of 304kg of cannabis was found in shoeboxes in the van, with an estimated street value of €6,080,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd said it was a serious crime involving a serious amount of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceFitzpatrick was jailed for 6½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 11½ years and reduced it to nine after mitigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final 2½ years of the sentence were suspended on several conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFitzpatrick was arrested in Spain and extradited to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA small amount of cocaine was found in Fitzpatrick's car. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí believe Fitzpatrick was at around the mid-level of a criminal gang. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFitzpatrick has 13 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCo-accused Anthony Kinghorn pleaded guilty and was jailed for eight years in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCo-accused Mark Nesbitt was found guilty by a jury after a 2022 trial and was jailed for eight years. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jun2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man caught helping to transport €6m worth of cannabis in van full of shoeboxes jailed

    Sentencing report: Fitzpatrick jailed for 6½ years over the €6m cannabis shipment, with the sentence reduced from 11½ years to nine and the final 2½ suspended. Also covers the co-accused, Kinghorn and Nesbitt, who were each jailed for eight years.

    convicted, Ryon Fitzpatrick, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryon Fitzpatrickconvicted, Anthony Kinghorn, 51, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Anthony Kinghornconvicted, Mark Nesbitt, 53, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mark Nesbitt