Ireland Moville man given suspended sentence over €12,000 drugs seizure
On 25 January 2021 detectives executed a warrant at an apartment at Bath Terrace, Moville, Co Donegal, where Gavin McGuinness, 37, threw a bag of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy out a bathroom window. McGuinness later pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to three charges of possessing cocaine for the purpose of selling or supplying it and to obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána. The judge reduced the sentence to 16 months in prison because of his counselling, then suspended it in its entirety and ordered him to keep the peace and abstain from unprescribed drugs for 16 months. The latest development, reported on 4 June 2025, is that the sentence was suspended in full.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gavin McGuinness pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing cocaine for the purpose of selling or supplying it.
- McGuinness threw a bag of drugs out a bathroom window of his Moville apartment when detectives arrived.
- Where
- The warrant was executed at an apartment at Bath Terrace, Moville, Co Donegal.
- When
- The warrant was executed on 25 January 2021.
- Investigation
- Forensic analysis confirmed the seized items were cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.
- Other details
- Ecstasy valued at €9,790, cocaine worth €638.47 and cannabis worth €1,962 were found.
- Charges
- McGuinness pleaded guilty to obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána.
- In court
- The case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where a Probation Service report assessed McGuinness as a low risk of reoffending.
- Cause
- The judge said McGuinness was suffering from a serious addiction.
- Sentence
- The judge reduced the sentence to 16 months in prison because of McGuinness's counselling.
- The judge suspended the sentence in its entirety.
- McGuinness was ordered to keep the peace for 16 months and to abstain from unprescribed drugs during that time.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGavin McGuinness pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing cocaine for the purpose of selling or supplying it. (donegallive.ie)
- whatMcGuinness threw a bag of drugs out a bathroom window of his Moville apartment when detectives arrived. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe warrant was executed at an apartment at Bath Terrace, Moville. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe warrant was executed on 25 January 2021. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe judge said McGuinness was suffering from a serious addiction. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationForensic analysis confirmed the seized items were cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeMcGuinness pleaded guilty to obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána. (donegallive.ie)
- courtA Probation Service report assessed McGuinness as a low risk of reoffending. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to 16 months in prison because of McGuinness's counselling. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the sentence in its entirety. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceMcGuinness was ordered to keep the peace for 16 months and to abstain from unprescribed drugs during that time. (donegallive.ie)
- otherEcstasy valued at €9,790, cocaine worth €638.47 and cannabis worth €1,962 were found. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Jun2025Suspended sentence for Moville man caught with €12,000 drugs stash
Court report on sentencing of Gavin McGuinness at Letterkenny Circuit Court, after a raid at Bath Terrace, Moville on 25 January 2021. Adds the plea, the reduced and suspended sentence, the Probation Service assessment, and the seized drug values.
convicted, Gavin McGuinness, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin McGuinness