Sunday 1 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. 21579Drugs offence (cannabis seizure); theft (stolen items) · Co. Dublin · 5 Apr 2023

Three men charged over cannabis and theft in Ballymun, Dublin

On 5 April 2023, a multi-agency search operation at a property in St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin, seized cannabis herb valued at €30,400, four vehicles, a trailer, tools and electrical items understood to be stolen, clothing, bags and a watch, and 16 puppies. Three men, aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s, were arrested during the operation. The puppies were placed in the care of My Lovely Horse for veterinary attention. All three men have since been charged, with the men in their 20s and 40s due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April 2023 and the man in his 30s at a later date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged5 Apr
    6 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Cannabis herb with a value of €30,400 was seized during the search.
  • Four vehicles, a trailer, tools, electrical items, clothing, bags and a watch understood to be stolen were seized.
  • Sixteen puppies were rescued and placed in the care of My Lovely Horse for veterinary attention.
Where
The search operation took place at a property in St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11.
When
The search operation was carried out on 5 April 2023.
Investigation
The search was conducted by the DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit with assistance from the DMR North Divisional Search Team, Garda Armed Support Unit, Ballymun and Coolock regular units, Dublin City Council and My Lovely Horse volunteers.
Charges
Three men aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s were arrested and charged.
In court
The men in their 20s and 40s were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April 2023, while the man in his 30s was due to appear at a later date.
Other details
Investigations were ongoing at the time of the release.
50 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSuspected cannabis herb with a value of €30,400 was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatTools and electrical items understood to be stolen were seized. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour vehicles and a trailer were seized. (garda.ie, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatItems of clothing, bags and a watch were seized. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatSixteen puppies were rescued and placed in the care of My Lovely Horse for veterinary attention. (garda.ie)
  • whatThree people were arrested in connection with the seizure. (extra.ie)
  • whatApproximately €30,000 worth of cannabis was seized. (extra.ie)
  • whatCannabis worth €30,400 was seized. (rte.ie)
  • whatClothes, bags, a watch, tools and electrical items believed to be stolen were seized. (rte.ie)
  • what16 puppies were rescued during the operation. (rte.ie)
  • whatCannabis herb with a value of €30,400 was discovered during the search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA number of tools and electrical items understood to be stolen were found. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSixteen puppies were rescued during the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe puppies are in the care of My Lovely Horse and receiving veterinary attention. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree men aged in their 20s, 30s, and 40s were arrested during the operation. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatSixteen puppies were found during the search (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA quantity of cannabis herb was found (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour vehicles and a trailer were found (irishtimes.com)
  • what16 puppies were recovered during the raid (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatCannabis herb with a value of €30,400 was seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatStolen tools and electrical items were found (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search operation took place at a property in St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe search operation was carried out on 5 April 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on 5 April 2023. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Wednesday, 5 April 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was conducted by the DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit with assistance from multiple units and agencies. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations were ongoing at the time of the release. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí, Dublin City Council staff and volunteers from My Lovely Horse took part in the search. (rte.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was conducted by Gardaí from the DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit, DMR North Divisional Search Team, Garda Armed Support Unit, and regular units from Ballymun and Coolock. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationPersonnel from Dublin City Council and volunteers from My Lovely Horse were also involved. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was conducted by the DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit with assistance from multiple units (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations were ongoing (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was conducted by DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit with multiple supporting units and agencies (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThree men aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s were arrested and charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeAll three men have been charged. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe three men have been charged. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men in their 20s and 40s were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April 2023. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe man in his 30s was due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at a later date. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe men in their 20s and 40s are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April 2023. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe man in his 30s is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at a later date. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe males in their 20s and 40s are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday 6 April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe male in his 30s is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at a later date. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men in their 20s and 40s are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday morning (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTwo men (20s and 40s) were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April 2023 (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe third man (30s) was to appear before the courts at a later date (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThree men, aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s, were arrested. (rte.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe 16 puppies are in the care of My Lovely Horse receiving veterinary attention. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe puppies are being cared for by My Lovely Horse and receiving veterinary attention (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe puppies were given to My Lovely Horse for veterinary attention (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Apr2023
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, its first report
    16 puppies recovered in huge gardai raid as three men charged in Dublin

    Adds details on court appearances (two men at Criminal Courts of Justice on 6 April, third at a later date), the specific units involved in the search, and that the puppies were handed to My Lovely Horse for veterinary care.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  2. 6 Apr2023
    Chargedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Sixteen puppies and drugs seized during Garda search of Ballymun house

    Provides details on the five Garda units and external partners involved in the search, the role of My Lovely Horse in caring for the puppies, and the court appearance dates for the three charged men.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  3. 6 Apr2023
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Dogs, drugs and cars seized and three arrested in major garda operation

    This article names the specific units involved (DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit, DMR North Divisional Search Team, Garda Armed Support Unit, Ballymun and Coolock regular units, Dublin City Council, My Lovely Horse volunteers), confirms the three men's ages (20s, 30s, 40s), and gives their court dates at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  4. 6 Apr2023
    Chargedrte.ie, its first report
    Three arrested as 16 puppies and drugs seized in Dublin

    Initial report of the search operation, arrests, charges, and scheduled court appearances at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  5. 6 Apr2023
    Chargedextra.ie, its first report
    Three Arrested In Dublin After 16 Puppies And €30k Worth of Cannabis Seized

    The article confirms the arrests and seizures but provides no new details beyond the headline; the body text consists of website template code.

    suspectsuspectsuspect
  6. 5 Apr2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, first report
    Search Operation - Three Arrests - St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11 - 5th April 2023

    Official garda press release confirming the search operation, naming the units involved (DMR North Divisional Crime Task Force Unit, DMR North Divisional Search Team, Garda Armed Support Unit, Ballymun and Coolock regular units, Dublin City Council, My Lovely Horse volunteers), specifying the cannabis value at €30,400, and giving court appearance dates for the three charged men.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male