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. 16405Money laundering and drug trafficking (organised crime) · Co. Dublin

Man jailed for role in Dublin organised crime group laundering money and trafficking drugs

An organised crime group was involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking between April 29, 2021 and February 4, 2022. A 33-year-old man, David Callaghan, with an address near the Kildare-Dublin border, was arrested after gardaí found €53,000 and €320,000 in cars, an electronic ledger of over €924,000 in transactions, and 25 kg of benzocaine. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assisting or facilitating the group's activities and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to thirteen and a half years in prison with the final five years suspended. Reports published on August 1, 2024 describe the sentence as eight and a half years, and that sentencing is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
An organised crime group was involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking.
Where
The man has an address near the Kildare-Dublin border and the case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
When
The offending took place between April 29, 2021 and February 4, 2022.
Investigation
  • Gardaí intervened at a car meeting and found €53,000 in one car and €320,000 in a secret compartment of another.
  • Gardaí obtained warrants to search David Callaghan's house and a number of other properties.
  • Gardaí found 25 kg of benzocaine in one house.
  • Gardaí found an electronic ledger detailing transactions of over €924,000 between June 2021 and January 2022.
  • David Callaghan was arrested and exercised his right to silence during interview.
Charges
David Callaghan pleaded guilty to assisting or facilitating the criminal organisation's activities.
In court
  • David Callaghan submitted an early guilty plea.
  • Judge Martin Nolan said there was no doubt that Callaghan was involved at a high level in a serious criminal organisation.
Sentence
  • David Callaghan was sentenced to thirteen and a half years in prison, with the final five years suspended.
  • Reports published on August 1, 2024 describe the sentence as eight and a half years in prison.
  • The judge suspended the final five years due to mitigating factors, including the deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe offending took place between April 29, 2021 and February 4, 2022. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí intervened at a car meeting and found €53,000 in one car and €320,000 in a secret compartment of another. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí got warrants to search Callaghan's house and a number of other properties. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí found 25 kg of benzocaine in one house. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationCallaghan was arrested and exercised his right to silence during interview. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeCallaghan pleaded guilty to assisting or facilitating the criminal organisation's activities. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtGardaí found an electronic ledger detailing transactions of over €924,000 between June 2021 and January 2022. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtCallaghan submitted an early guilty plea. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan said there was no doubt that Callaghan was involved at a high level in a serious criminal organisation. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceDavid Callaghan was sentenced to thirteen and a half years in prison, with the final five years suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final five years of the sentence due to mitigating factors, including the deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Aug2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Man with address near Kildare-Dublin border jailed for eight and half years for his role in an organised crime group involved in money laundering and drug trafficking

    Reports the sentencing of David Callaghan, including the court's account of the investigation, the seizures, the judge's remarks and the mitigating factors.

    convicted, David Callaghan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Callaghan