Sunday 1 November 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. 0563Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Laois · 15 Jul 2026

Man remanded on bail over drug possession in Laois

On 15 July 2026, Gardaí searched a house in Stradbally, Co. Laois under warrant as part of Operation Tara and seized approximately €122,400 worth of cannabis and cocaine. Mick Leigh, 47, a man from Tullamoy, Stradbally, was arrested in connection with the seizure. He was charged with possessing drugs for sale or supply and appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 16 July 2026. On 20 September 2026, Judge Andrew Gubbins remanded him on bail to appear again on 14 December for DPP directions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested16 Jul
    3 reports
  3. Charged16 Jul
  4. In court20 Sep
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized approximately €122,400 worth of cannabis and cocaine during a warrant search of a house in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
  • The seized drugs comprised approximately €85,000 cannabis herb (cited as €87,400 in a Garda headline), €35,000 cocaine and €2,400 cannabis resin.
Where
The search was carried out at a residence in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
When
The search and arrest took place on 15 July 2026.
Investigation
  • The search was part of Operation Tara targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs, carried out by the Laois Drugs Unit assisted by the Laois Detective Unit under warrant.
  • The seized substances are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
Mick Leigh, 47, of Tullamoy, Stradbally, is charged with possessing drugs for sale or supply at his address.
In court
He appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 16 July 2026 and again on 20 September 2026.
Sentence
Judge Andrew Gubbins remanded him on bail to appear before Portlaoise District Court on 14 December 2026 for DPP directions.
Other details
  • A detective garda is seeking 12 weeks in the case.
  • The man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in the Co. Offaly area.
42 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested a man and seized drugs worth over €120,000 during a search of a house in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatSuspected illegal cannabis and cocaine with a total value of approximately €122,400 were seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatApproximately €85,000 of cannabis herb, €35,000 of cocaine and €2,400 of cannabis resin were seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • what€122,400 worth of cannabis and cocaine was seized (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí arrested a man and seized cannabis and cocaine worth approximately €122,400 during a search of a residence. (garda.ie)
  • whatApproximately €85,000 cannabis herb, €35,000 cocaine and €2,400 cannabis resin were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatApproximately €122,400 worth of cocaine and cannabis was seized (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatApproximately €85,000 worth of cannabis herb was seized (irishmirror.ie)
  • what€35,000 worth of cocaine was seized (irishmirror.ie)
  • what€2,400 worth of cannabis resin was seized (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMick Leigh is accused of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his address. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were found during a search of a house in Stradbally. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe seizure took place in Stradbally, Co. Laois (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search was carried out at a residence in Stradbally, Laois (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe man is detained at a Garda station in the Co Offaly area (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe accused is from Tullamoy, Stradbally. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe seizure took place on 15 July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe court appearance is on 16 July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe seizure took place on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence took place on July 15. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara, which targets the sale and supply of controlled drugs. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationLaois Drugs Unit, assisted by the Laois Detective Unit, carried out the search under warrant. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe seized substances are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. (leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested in connection with the investigation into the seizure of drugs (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out under warrant by the Laois Drugs Unit assisted by the Laois Detective Unit in Stradbally, Co Laois. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in the Co Offaly area. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized substances are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out under warrant by the Laois Drugs Unit assisted by the Laois Detective Unit (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA detective garda is seeking 12 weeks. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe man has been charged (garda.ie)
  • courtHe is expected to appear before Portlaoise District Court (garda.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtDPP directions are awaited in the case. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge remanded the accused on bail to appear again on December 14 for DPP directions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in the Co Offaly area. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe operation targets the sale and supply of controlled drugs. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe alleged amount of drugs is described as big. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Sep2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man allegedly had large amount of drugs in Laois

    First report of this case. Adds the accused's name, age and address, the alleged amount described as big, the investigating detective's request for 12 weeks, and the bail remand to December 14 for DPP directions.

    accused, Mick Leigh, 47, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mick Leigh
  2. 21 Jul2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Man, 40s, arrested after €122,400 worth of cocaine and cannabis seized

    Reports the arrest of a man in his 40s and the seizure of €85,000 cannabis herb, €35,000 cocaine and €2,400 cannabis resin during a warrant search under Operation Tara in Stradbally, Laois.

    suspect, 40s, male
  3. 16 Jul2026
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    16/07/2026 Operation Tara – Seizure of €87,400 Cannabis, €35,000 Cocaine, One Arrest, Co. Laois, 15th July 2026

    Official Garda press release confirming the seizure breakdown (€85,000 cannabis herb, €35,000 cocaine, €2,400 cannabis resin) and the legal basis for detention under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

    suspect, 40s, male
  4. 16 Jul2026
    Chargedgarda.ie, its first report
    16/07/2026 Court Appearance - Operation Tara – Seizure of €87,400 Cannabis, €35,000 Cocaine, One Arrest, Co. Laois, 15th July 2026

    The man has been charged and is expected to appear before Portlaoise District Court on 16 July 2026.

    suspect, 40s, male
  5. 16 Jul2026
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man arrested as drugs valued at over €120,000 seized in Laois

    Reports a warrant search of a house in Stradbally under Operation Tara, with drugs valued at about €122,400 seized and a man in his 40s arrested. No existing case matches this Stradbally incident.

    suspect, 40s, male