Ireland Prison officer remanded on bail over cannabis charges in Limerick
On Thursday 10 October 2024, Gardaí seized approximately 1kg of suspected cocaine worth an estimated €70,000 during an intelligence-led search of a residence and open ground area in south Limerick city. Pat Hurley, a 38-year-old Irish prison officer, was arrested on the Childers Road in Limerick city that same afternoon and charged on Friday night with possession of a controlled drug, suspected to be cannabis, and possession for sale or supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He appeared at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court on Saturday 12 October, made no reply to the charges, and was remanded on bail on his own bond of €100. The matter was adjourned to December in Limerick District Court, and the seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
- Reported12 Oct
2 reports - Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Approximately 1kg of suspected cocaine worth an estimated €70,000 was seized during a search.
- Where
- Gardaí searched a residence and an open ground area in south Limerick city.
- When
- The search and seizure took place on Thursday 10 October 2024.
- Investigation
- The search was part of an intelligence-led operation and the seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
- Pat Hurley, a 38-year-old Irish prison officer, was arrested on the Childers Road in Limerick city on Thursday afternoon.
- Charges
- He was charged with possession of a controlled drug, suspected to be cannabis, under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- He was also charged with possession of drugs, understood to be cannabis, for sale and supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- In court
- He appeared at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court on Saturday 12 October 2024 and made no reply to the charges after caution.
- He was remanded on bail on his own bond of €100, with conditions including residing at a given address, being of sober habits in public, and his passport being held by Gardaí.
- The matter was adjourned to December in Limerick District Court.
- Other details
- No arrests had been made in relation to the cocaine seizure at the time of initial reporting.
27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAbout 1kg of suspected cocaine was seized. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe estimated value of the seized drugs is €70,000. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatApproximately 1kg of suspected cocaine was seized. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatA prison officer was charged with drugs offences at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereGardaí searched a residence and an open ground area in south Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie, limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on a Thursday afternoon. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Thursday 10 October 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe prison officer was charged at 9.40pm on Friday night in the cell area of a garda station. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe search was part of an intelligence-led operation. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationNo arrests had been made in relation to the seizure at the time of reporting. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the investigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe drugs are to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further analysis. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested the accused on Thursday afternoon on the Childers Road in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with possession of a controlled drug, suspected to be cannabis, under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe is also charged with possession of drugs, understood to be cannabis, for sale and supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe State did not object to bail, subject to a number of conditions. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge granted applications that the accused's address and the garda station where he must sign on not be published. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtGardaí held the accused's passport. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe other bail conditions are that he reside at the address given to gardaí and be of sober habits in public. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtHe was remanded on bail on his own bond of €100. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned until December in Limerick District Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe estimated value of the drugs seized is €70,000. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherNo arrests had been made in relation to the seizure at the time. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherHe made no reply to the charges after caution. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Oct2024BREAKING: Prison officer charged with drugs offences at special court sitting in Limerick
First report of the charges and the special court sitting. Adds the arrest location and day, the charge details, the time and place of charging, and the bail terms. The arrest and offence dates are given only relative to the article date, so incident_date is left empty.
accused, Pat Hurley, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Pat Hurley - 12 Oct2024Limerick Gardaí make €70,000 cocaine seizure
First report of the seizure, published by the Limerick Post on 12 October 2024. The Garda spokeswoman confirmed the seizure and said no arrests had been made.
- 12 Oct2024€70k worth of cocaine found in search of south Limerick city residence and 'open ground area'
First report of the seizure. The article says the search took place on Thursday but gives no date, and states that no arrests had been made.