Special needs carer Donna McGaughran charged over €300k cannabis and cocaine seizure in Dublin 8
On 15 April 2025, the DMR South Central Drug Unit searched a home at Bull Alley Street, Dublin 8, and seized 15 kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of €300,000, cocaine worth €2,240, and €6,000 to €6,010 in cash. Donna McGaughran, 26, a woman and special needs carer, and her fiancé, a man in his 30s, were arrested and charged; she faces charges of unlawful possession of cannabis and cocaine and possessing the drugs for sale or supply, while he was charged with having the €300,000 of cannabis. Her fiancé appeared before Court 4 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on 16 April and was bailed. McGaughran appeared before Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court on 17 April, where Garda Majella Boles objected to bail, and was also due before Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on the same day.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged15 Apr
4 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The DMR South Central Drug Unit searched a residential premises and seized 15 kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of €300,000, cocaine worth €2,240, and €6,000 to €6,010 in cash.
- Two large black bags containing 15 packages of cannabis were found at the foot of the bed, a handbag in a wardrobe contained some of the cocaine, and the remainder was in the bedroom.
- Where
- The search was at a residential premises at Bull Alley Street in the south inner city, Dublin 8, where Donna McGaughran lives at Iveagh Trust, Bride Street.
- When
- The search and arrests took place on Tuesday, 15 April 2025.
- Investigation
- Donna McGaughran, 26, a woman and special needs carer, and her fiancé, a man in his 30s, were arrested in the Dublin 24 and Bray, Co Wicklow areas, and detained at a city centre Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- Charges
- McGaughran was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and cocaine and possessing the drugs for sale or supply, while her fiancé was charged with having €300,000 of cannabis.
- In court
- Her fiancé appeared before Court 4 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, and was bailed.
- McGaughran appeared before Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court on Thursday, 17 April 2025, where Garda Majella Boles objected to bail, and was also due before Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on the same day.
- Other details
- McGaughran made no reply when charged, had never previously been before court, suffers from anxiety, and had foreign travel plans to London.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA woman in her 20s and a man in his 30s were arrested in Dublin 8 following the seizure of €300,000 of cannabis. (garda.ie)
- whatCannabis with an estimated street value of around €300,000 was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCocaine worth more than €2,000 was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- what€6,000 in cash was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRishabh Mahajan, 29, from India, was charged with three counts of exposing himself to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonna McGaughran is a special needs carer (irishmirror.ie)
- what15 kilogrammes of cannabis valued at €300,000 were alleged to be in her possession (irishmirror.ie)
- what€2,240 of cocaine was also alleged to be in her possession (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo large black bags containing 15 packages of cannabis were found at the foot of her bed (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA handbag in a wardrobe contained some of the cocaine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe rest of the cocaine was in the bedroom (irishmirror.ie)
- what€6,010 in cash was recovered (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe search was at a residential premises at Bull Alley Street in the south inner city (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe suspects were arrested in the Dublin 24 and Bray, Co Wicklow areas (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe lives at Iveagh Trust, Bride Street, Dublin 8 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe search took place on Tuesday, 15 April 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences allegedly happened on three dates over two weeks in October and November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged incidents took place between 1 and 4am. (irishtimes.com)
- whenShe and her fiancé were arrested on Tuesday 15 April 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe DMR South Central Drug Unit carried out the search (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth suspects are detained at a city centre Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationCCTV evidence exists (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth the woman and the man have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeShe was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and cocaine (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShe was charged with possessing the drugs for sale or supply (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHer co-accused fiancé was charged with having €300,000 of cannabis (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before Court 4 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday 16 April 2025. (garda.ie)
- courtThe woman is due to appear before Court 2, Criminal Courts of Justice, on Thursday 17 April 2025. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before Court 4 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday 16 April (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe woman is due to appear before Court 2, Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday 17 April (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court granted bail and described the allegations as serious. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was ordered not to contact the woman, surrender his passport, reside at an address known to gardaí, and sign on at a Dublin Garda station on a set day each week. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP stated the case must be transferred to the Circuit Court unless he pleads guilty. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe co-accused was bailed earlier (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe hearing took place before Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGarda Majella Boles objected to bail (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe incidents were captured on CCTV. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe came to Ireland last year and lost his apartment and university place due to the allegations. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLegal aid was granted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe made no reply when charged (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had foreign travel plans to London for a vacation (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had never been before the court (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe suffers from anxiety (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Apr2025Special needs carer charged over €300k cannabis and cocaine seizure
Original charging and bail hearing at Dublin District Court. Details of the search, quantities seized, and bail conditions provided.
accused, Donna McGaughran, 26, female, named, irish (judged from name)Donna McGaughranaccused, male - 17 Apr2025Student captured on CCTV repeatedly performing lewd acts outside woman’s workplace, court hears
Bail hearing at Dublin District Court; bail granted with conditions including surrendering passport, weekly sign-on, and no contact with the victim. DPP indicated case must go to Circuit Court unless guilty plea entered.
suspect, Rishabh Mahajan, 29, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Rishabh Mahajanvictim, female - 17 Apr2025Man and woman charged following €300,000 cannabis seizure
Adds the specific address (Bull Alley Street, south inner city), the €6,000 cash seizure, the areas where each suspect was arrested (Dublin 24 and Bray, Co Wicklow), detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and court appearance details at the Criminal Courts of Justice.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 15 Apr2025Court Appearance - Operation Tara: Seizure of €300,000 Cannabis Dublin 8, 15th April 2025
Confirms both suspects have been formally charged and provides court appearance details: man appeared at Court 4, Criminal Courts of Justice, on 16 April 2025; woman due at Court 2, Criminal Courts of Justice, on 17 April 2025.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 30s, male