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. 17408Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Dublin · 24 Apr 2023

Man sentenced over cocaine possession after Tallaght garda raid, court hears

On 24 April 2023, gardaí surveilling a criminal gang in Tallaght, Dublin, searched a house and car belonging to Dominik Kaczmarek and found two kilos of cocaine in his car, with about €140,000 of cocaine seized in total. One kilo was inadvertently destroyed while being moved by gardaí and was never analysed, so Kaczmarek was charged on the basis of one kilo. On Tuesday 30 April 2024 he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-and-a-half-year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions. One report's standfirst gives the sentence as four-and-a-half years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Apr
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí found two kilos of cocaine in Dominik Kaczmarek's car.
  • About €140,000 of cocaine was seized in total, with each kilo worth €70,028.
Where
The search took place at Kaczmarek's home in Tallaght, Dublin.
When
The offence took place on 24 April 2023.
Cause
The court heard Kaczmarek had a history of addiction and that third parties used him to transport their drugs.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were carrying out surveillance on a criminal gang in Tallaght and obtained a search warrant for the house and car of a suspect.
  • One kilo of cocaine was inadvertently destroyed while being moved by gardaí and was never analysed.
Charges
  • Kaczmarek was charged on the basis of one kilo of cocaine.
  • Kaczmarek pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his home in Tallaght.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday 30 April 2024, with Garda Stephen Gillespie giving evidence and Kate Egan BL prosecuting.
Sentence
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-and-a-half-year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions, though one report's standfirst says four-and-a-half years.
Other details
  • Kaczmarek has previous convictions, including a two-year sentence for a drug offence.
  • The defence said Kaczmarek had a dysfunctional family life and struggled with drug addiction.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí found two kilos of cocaine in Kaczmarek's car. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatAbout €140,000 of cocaine was seized in total. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatEach kilo of cocaine was worth €70,028. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whatGardaí seized about €140,000 worth of cocaine during the raid. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereGardaí were carrying out surveillance on a criminal gang in Tallaght, Dublin. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whereTwo kilos of cocaine were found in the suspect's car. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe offence took place on 24 April 2023 at Kaczmarek's home in Tallaght. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 24 April 2023. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeThe court heard the accused had a history of addiction and third parties used it to make him transport their drugs. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a search warrant to search the house and car of a suspect. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí were carrying out surveillance on a criminal gang in Tallaght, Dublin, and obtained a search warrant for a suspect's house and car. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeKaczmarek was charged on the basis of one kilo. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeKaczmarek pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeKaczmarek was charged on the basis of one kilo of cocaine. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeKaczmarek pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his home address in Tallaght on April 24, 2023. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe accused was charged on the basis of one kilo of cocaine. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his home in Tallaght. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday 30 April 2024. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceKaczmarek was jailed for four-and-a-half years, according to the standfirst. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a five-and-a-half-year sentence and suspended the final year on conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan handed down a five and a half year sentence and suspended the final year on conditions. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe accused was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final year suspended on conditions. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherOne kilo of cocaine was inadvertently destroyed while being moved by gardaí and was never analysed. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherKaczmarek has a number of previous convictions and previously served a two-year sentence for a drug offence. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said Kaczmarek had a dysfunctional family life and struggled with drug addiction. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherOne kilo of cocaine was inadvertently destroyed when gardaí were moving it. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe accused has a number of previous convictions, including a two-year sentence for a drug offence. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    €70k of drugs were inadvertently destroyed after garda raid, court hears

    Reports the guilty plea, sentence and the detail that one of two kilos of cocaine was inadvertently destroyed by gardaí and never analysed, so the charge was based on one kilo.

    convicted, Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, namedDominik Kaczmarek
  2. 30 Apr2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, follow-up
    Man with Naas address jailed after gardaí found cocaine in his car

    Reports the guilty plea and the sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, and gives the background to the search and the drugs seizure.

    convicted, Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dominik Kaczmarek
  3. 30 Apr2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí seized €140,000 of cocaine during raid before half of it was 'inadvertently destroyed'

    Adds the court hearing: the guilty plea, the Garda evidence that one kilo was destroyed before analysis, the defence mitigation, and the sentence of five-and-a-half years with the final year suspended. The standfirst says four-and-a-half years, which conflicts with the body text.

    convicted, Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, male, namedDominik Kaczmarek