Saturday 31 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. 20336Possession of heroin; obstructing gardai · Co. Laois · 7 Sep 2021

Man sentenced for heroin possession outside Portlaoise Court

John Kelly, 40, a man from Portlaoise, County Laois, admitted to possession of heroin and obstructing gardai after a woman handed him a package of heroin valued at €400 as he was being brought from a prison van into Portlaoise District Court on 7 September 2021. The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. Judge Andrew Cody sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for three years, while the co-accused woman received an eight-month suspended sentence for sale and supply of heroin. The court was told the defendant had 97 previous convictions and had spent 13 months in UK prisons, including seven and a half months in solitary confinement.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
John Kelly, 40, of 69 Hillview Drive, Portlaoise, admitted to possession of heroin and obstructing gardai after a woman handed him a package of heroin valued at €400 as he was being brought from a prison van into the courthouse.
Where
The incident took place at Main Street, Portlaoise, County Laois.
When
The incident occurred on 7 September 2021.
In court
The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court.
Sentence
  • Judge Andrew Cody sentenced the man to six months in prison, suspended for three years.
  • The co-accused woman received an eight-month suspended sentence for sale and supply of heroin.
Other details
  • The defendant has 97 previous convictions.
  • The defendant had been in care from a young age and suffered abuse while in care.
  • The defendant spent 13 months in three different prisons in the UK, including seven and a half months in solitary confinement.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Kelly, 40, of 69 Hillview Drive, Portlaoise, admitted to possession of heroin and obstructing gardai at Main Street, Portlaoise on 7 September 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA woman handed the defendant a package as he was being brought from the prison van into the courthouse. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe package turned out to be heroin valued at €400. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Andrew Cody sentenced the man to six months in prison but suspended the sentence for three years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe co-accused woman received an eight-month suspended sentence for sale and supply of heroin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has 97 previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had been in care from a young age and suffered abuse while in care. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant spent 13 months in three different prisons in the UK. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was in solitary confinement for seven and a half months in the UK. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Jul2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Handed heroin outside Portlaoise Court

    Sentencing details: six-month prison sentence suspended for three years; co-accused woman received eight-month suspended sentence for sale and supply; background on defendant's 97 previous convictions, time in care, and 13 months in UK prisons including seven and a half months in solitary confinement.

    convicted, John Kelly, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Kellyconvicted, female