Ireland Man with 121 previous convictions jailed for drug possession in Kilkenny
On 19 July 2023 at about 6.30pm, gardaí attended at Pococke Lower in Kilkenny, where Kieran Jones, a 27-year-old man of Hebron Park, Kilkenny, was causing a nuisance and was highly intoxicated. He was arrested under the Public Order Act and, after a search at Kilkenny Garda Station, was found with one deal of heroin, which the court was told was for his own use. Kilkenny District Court convicted him of a drug possession offence and a public order offence, and sources differ on whether this was in his absence or after a guilty plea, with sentencing adjourned to 24 October. The latest development, reported on 31 October 2024, is that he was sentenced to one month in prison on the possession charge, with the public order offence taken into consideration.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Oct
- Sentenced30 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mr Jones was highly intoxicated and unable to stand up when observed by gardaí.
- Where
- Gardaí observed Mr Jones at Pococke Power and attended at Pococke Lower, Kilkenny, where he was causing a nuisance.
- When
- The incident happened on 19 July 2023 at about 6.30pm.
- Cause
- Mr Jones was described as causing a nuisance.
- Investigation
- Mr Jones was arrested under the Public Order Act and a fixed charge penalty was not paid.
- Mr Jones was searched at Kilkenny Garda Station and found with one deal, or rap, of heroin, and his solicitor said he had handed the drugs over before the search.
- Other details
- The solicitor said the drugs had a nominal value of €20 or less, and the heroin was for his own use.
- Mr Jones had 121 previous convictions, many for simple possession, and the judge observed he had a chequered history.
- His solicitor said he was doing well, was on a methadone programme and was engaging with support services, and that he had not attended court because he had been assaulted the night before.
- Charges
- Mr Jones was charged with illegal possession of drugs and a public order offence.
- In court
- Sources differ: one says Kilkenny District Court convicted Mr Jones in his absence and adjourned sentencing, while another says he pleaded guilty to both charges.
- Judge Geraldine Carthy adjourned sentencing to 24 October and considered a Community Service Order but concluded it was not suitable.
- Sentence
- Mr Jones was sentenced to one month in prison on the possession charge, with the public order offence taken into consideration.
- Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was highly intoxicated and unable to stand up. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatMr Jones was found in possession of one deal of heroin after being searched. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatThe solicitor said Mr Jones had handed over the drugs before he was searched. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatThe solicitor said the drugs had a nominal value of €20 or less. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereGardaí observed Mr Jones at Pococke Power. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereGardaí attended at Pococke Lower. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on July 19, 2023, at 6.30pm. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- causeMr Jones was described as causing a nuisance. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationHe was searched at Kilkenny Garda Station and handed over a rap of heroin. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationMr Jones was arrested under the Public Order Act. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationA fixed charge penalty was not paid. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeHe was arrested under the Public Order Act. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of illegal possession of drugs and a public order offence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeKieran Jones pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge and a public order charge. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtKilkenny District Court convicted Mr Jones in his absence and adjourned for sentencing. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtJudge Carthy convicted Mr Jones and adjourned the matter to 24 October for sentencing. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtThe judge considered a Community Service Order but concluded it was not suitable. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceMr Jones was convicted on the possession charge and sentenced to one month in prison. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe public order offence was taken into consideration. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceRecognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherThe heroin was for his own use and its value was minimal. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherThe judge observed that Mr Jones had a chequered history. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherHis solicitor said he was doing well and was on a methadone programme. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherHe was not in court because he had been assaulted the night before. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherMr Jones had 121 previous convictions, many for simple possession. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherMr Jones is now engaging with support services and on a methadone programme. (kilkennypeople.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Oct2024Man with 121 previous convictions is jailed for drug possession by Kilkenny Court
Court report on a July 2023 possession incident at Pococke Lower, Kilkenny, with a one-month sentence. This is a different incident from case 9095, which concerns tablets found at a cemetery in October 2025, although the same named man appears in both.
convicted, Kieran Jones, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kieran Jones - 11 Oct2024Man with ‘chequered history’ is convicted at Kilkenny Court
Court report of the conviction in absence, with sentencing adjourned to 24 October. The article gives the incident date only as July 19 with no year; the existing record dates it 2023-07-19, so the year is not confirmed here.
convicted, Kieran Jones, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kieran Jones