Friday 30 October 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. 17182Possession of cocaine · Co. Donegal · 22 Apr 2023

Strabane man convicted over cocaine found in Lifford search

On 22 April 2023, gardaí executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at a premises at Cavan Hill, Lifford, and found seven grams of cocaine in two plastic bags on Richard Lindsay, a 33-year-old man from Strabane. Lindsay was cautioned and said the drug was for his own use and that he bought it in Northern Ireland, and he was charged in connection with the incident. At Letterkenny District Court he was not present and had no legal representation, and the judge found the facts proven in his absence. He was convicted and fined €750 with six months to pay, a result reported in May 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted20 May
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two plastic bags were found on Richard Lindsay's person, containing a total of seven grams of cocaine.
Other details
  • Richard Lindsay is a 33-year-old man with an address at Patrick Street, Strabane.
  • Lindsay told gardaí he bought the cocaine in Northern Ireland and denied supplying it to anyone else; a sergeant gave the same account in court.
Where
Gardaí searched a premises at Cavan Hill, Lifford, under a search warrant issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
When
The offence is linked to an incident on 22 April 2023.
Investigation
Lindsay was cautioned by gardaí and said the drug was for his own use.
Charges
Lindsay was charged in connection with the incident on 22 April 2023 with possession of cocaine.
In court
  • Lindsay was not present and had no legal representation when his case was called at Letterkenny District Court.
  • The judge found the facts proven in Lindsay's absence and noted he had no previous convictions.
  • The court report is dated 20 May 2024 in the article metadata, while the article text gives the publication date as 21 May 2024.
Sentence
Lindsay was convicted and fined €750, with six months to pay.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo plastic bags were found on Lindsay's person. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatA total of seven grams of cocaine was found. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a premises at Cavan Hill, Lifford, under a search warrant. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe offence is linked to an incident on 22 April 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationLindsay was cautioned by gardaí and said the drug was for his own use. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtLindsay was not present and had no legal representation at Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge found the facts proven in Lindsay's absence and noted he had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceLindsay was convicted and fined €750 with six months to pay. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherLindsay told gardaí he bought the cocaine in Northern Ireland and denied supplying it to anyone else. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 May2024
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Strabane man convicted after cocaine found in Lifford search

    Court report on a conviction recorded in absence at Letterkenny District Court. The article gives the offence date as 22 April 2023 and says the cocaine was bought in Northern Ireland, according to the sergeant's account in court.

    convicted, Richard Lindsay, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Lindsay