Thursday 5 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. 26846Possession of drugs (cannabis, cocaine) for sale or supply; money laundering · Co. Kildare · 11 Feb 2021

Pair sent for trial over Kildare drug possession and money laundering

On 11 February 2021, an intelligence-led operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau found 314 kilograms of cannabis worth €6.28m and cocaine worth €770,000 at the home of man Eric Lawlor, 46, in Straffan, Kildare, and 60 kilograms of cannabis worth €1.2m in a Peugeot driven by man Eugene Mulligan, 49, in Kill, Kildare. Lawlor faces charges of possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply and a breach of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, while Mulligan faces a charge of possessing cannabis for sale or supply. The two men, who had no prior connection, first appeared in court in February 2021 and appeared again in Naas District Court on 4 May 2022. On 17 May 2022, both were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court and remain on High Court bail.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 Dec
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • 314 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of €6.28m, reported as 318 kilograms worth €6.5m in some accounts, and cocaine worth €770,000 were found at Lawlor's home.
  • 60 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of €1.2m was found in a Peugeot vehicle Mulligan was driving.
  • €18,650 in cash, reported as €18,000 in some accounts, a kilo of benzocaine, tick lists, ledgers, a cocaine press, and a phone with an encrypted app were found at Lawlor's property.
  • A car parked nearby had been fitted with a hidden compartment containing a magnet.
Where
The searches took place at Cypress House, Baybush, Straffan, and Kill Hill, Kill, in County Kildare.
When
The drugs were found on 11 February 2021.
Investigation
The drugs were found following an intelligence-led operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Charges
  • Lawlor faces allegations of possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply and a breach of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act.
  • Mulligan faces an allegation of possessing cannabis for sale or supply.
In court
  • Both men appeared in Naas District Court on 4 May 2022 and were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court on 17 May 2022.
  • Both men remain on High Court bail.
Other details
There was no prior connection between the two defendants.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • what314 kilograms of cannabis herb with a street value of €6.28m was found at Lawlor's home (kildarenow.com)
  • whatCocaine with a value of €770,000 was found at Lawlor's home (kildarenow.com)
  • what€18,650 in cash was found (kildarenow.com)
  • what60 kilograms of cannabis herb with a street value of €1.2m was found in the Peugeot vehicle Mulligan was driving (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA car parked nearby had been fitted with a hidden compartment containing a magnet (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA kilo of benzocaine, a mixing agent, was found within Lawlor's property (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA phone with an encrypted app used by criminal groups was found (kildarenow.com)
  • whatTick lists, ledgers and a press for making cocaine were found (kildarenow.com)
  • whatTwo men were charged in connection with an €8m drugs haul in the Straffan and Kill areas (kildarenow.com)
  • whatIt will be alleged Mulligan had €1.2m worth of cannabis (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA car was observed leaving a house before the premises was searched (kildarenow.com)
  • what318 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €6.5m was found (kildarenow.com)
  • what€18,000 in cash was found (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA small amount of cocaine was found (kildarenow.com)
  • whereEric Lawlor's address was given as Baybush House, Baybush, Maynooth (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe Lawlor charges relate to Cypress House, Baybush, Straffan (kildarenow.com)
  • whereEugene Mulligan's address was given as Hillside Cottage, Carrigans Upper, Ballymote, County Sligo (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe drugs were found on 11 February 2021 (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe drugs were found following an intelligence-led operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe incident arose from an operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeEric Lawlor faces allegations of possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply and a breach of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act at Cypress House, Baybush, Straffan, on 11 February (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeEugene Mulligan faces an allegation of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Kill Hill, Kill, on 11 February (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeLawlor faces allegations of possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply and a breach of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeMulligan faces an allegation of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Kill Hill, Kill (kildarenow.com)
  • courtTwo men appeared in Naas District Court on 1 December 2021 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtEugene Mulligan did not attend the hearing for medical reasons (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 16 March (kildarenow.com)
  • courtBoth men appeared before Naas District Court on 4 May 2022 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThey first appeared in court in February 2021 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtMulligan was sent forward for trial to Naas Circuit Court on 17 May 2022 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtMulligan was remanded on High Court bail (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan sent Lawlor forward on signed pleas to Naas Circuit Court on 17 May 2022 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtLawlor stays on High Court bail (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defendant must provide details of any alibi in advance (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThere was no prior connection between the two defendants (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2022
    In courtkildarenow.com, follow-up
    Alleged €8m Kildare drugs haul pair sent for trial

    Reports the 4 May 2022 Naas District Court hearing at which both defendants were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court on 17 May 2022, with details of the GNDOCB search, the drugs and items seized, and the charges.

    accused, Eric Lawlor, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Lawloraccused, Eugene Mulligan, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eugene Mulligan
  2. 16 Dec2021
    In courtkildarenow.com, first report
    Alleged €8.2m Kildare drugs find in court

    Details of the 1 December 2021 court appearance including Garda testimony about additional items found (benzocaine, ketamine, encrypted phone, tick lists, ledgers, cocaine press), the hidden compartment in a nearby car, and adjournment to 16 March 2022.

    suspect, Eric Lawlor, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Lawlorsuspect, Eugene Mulligan, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eugene Mulligan