Ireland Two Dublin men bailed over alleged €6,400 drone drug delivery to Cloverhill Prison
Craig Doyle, 25, and Adam Aspel, 30, were granted bail at Dublin District Court on 30 March 2026 after being charged with using a drone to fly cannabis, heroin and tablets worth €6,422 into Cloverhill Prison. They were arrested on 28 March 2026 during gardaí surveillance of drone activity near Collinstown Park.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged30 Mar
2 reports - In court30 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports41 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRonanstown Gardaí arrested three men and seized two drones and €7,000 controlled drugs. (garda.ie)
- whatOn 27 March, a drone worth approximately €2,500 and a mobile device were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatOn 28 March, a drone worth approximately €3,000 and controlled drugs worth €7,000 were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatOn Friday a drone worth approximately €2,500 and a mobile device were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was arrested on Friday in connection with the investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn Saturday a drone worth approximately €3,000 and controlled drugs valued at €7,000 were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 20s and 30s were arrested on Saturday (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCraig Doyle is 25 and lives at Paddocks Way, Adamstown, Lucan (irishtimes.com)
- whatAdam Aspel is 30 and lives at Corkagh Grange Way, Clondalkin (irishtimes.com)
- whatGarda Kevin Duff alleged the pair were observed in an area of Collinstown Park near Cloverhill and Wheatfield Prisons (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatAspel went to the far side of a hedge and ran (irishtimes.com)
- whatDrugs were found on the ground (irishtimes.com)
- whatMore drugs were located beside a drone and its controller in a hedge (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drone had been activated because its lights were on (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatGarda Duff conceded he did not see Aspel discard anything (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo Dublin men are accused of using a drone to fly more than €6,000 worth of drugs into Cloverhill Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGarda Duff said Mr Aspel went to the far side of a hedge and ran. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDrugs were found on the ground and more beside a drone and its controller in a hedge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGarda Duff conceded under cross-examination that he did not see Mr Aspel discard anything. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe operation took place in the west Dublin area, handled by Ronanstown Gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe seizures and arrests occurred on Friday 27 March and Saturday 28 March 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe pair were arrested by gardaí carrying out surveillance of drone activity on 28 March (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe pair were arrested by gardaí carrying out surveillance of drone activity on 28 March 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation targeted the supply of controlled substances into prisons in the West Dublin area. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seized drones will be subject to further technical examination. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe three men have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe three men arrested have since been charged (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeEach man is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, heroin and tablets estimated to be worth €6,422 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeEach man is charged with conveying controlled drugs into a prison (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeEach man is charged with using a drone to fly drugs into Cloverhill Prison in West Dublin (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe three men were scheduled to appear before the courts on Monday 30 March 2026. (garda.ie)
- courtThe three men were scheduled to appear before the courts on 30 March 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThey appeared at Dublin District Court where Judge Treasa Kelly set bail (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Donal Quigley emphasised the evidence was not strong and his client was in a field adjacent to the incident (irishtimes.com)
- courtAspel was to appear again on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe two men must stay away from the two prisons, be contactable by phone, and be involved in no drone activity (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday where Judge Treasa Kelly set bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail conditions include staying away from the two prisons, being contactable by phone, and having no drone activity. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Doyle's case was adjourned until September. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Aspel is to appear again on Tuesday. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Mar2026Dublin pair in court over alleged €6,400 drone drug delivery to Cloverhill
First report of the case. Both men bailed with conditions including no drone activity and staying away from Cloverhill and Wheatfield Prisons. Doyle's case adjourned to September; Aspel to reappear the following Tuesday.
accused, Craig Doyle, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Doyleaccused, Adam Aspel, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adam Aspel - 30 Mar2026Two men charged with using drone to fly drugs worth thousands of euro into prison
Details of the bail hearing: Judge Treasa Kelly's conditions, Garda Kevin Duff's testimony about the arrest in Collinstown Park, defence arguments that evidence was not strong, and adjournment dates (Doyle to September, Aspel to the following Tuesday).
suspect, Craig Doyle, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Doylesuspect, Adam Aspel, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adam Aspel - 30 Mar2026Gardai targeting prison smuggling seize 2 drones & €7k worth of controlled drugs
Provides the full scope of the operation: two separate seizures (27 and 28 March), two drones (valued at €2,500 and €3,000), three men arrested (one on 27 March, two on 28 March), all charged and due in court on 30 March. Drugs to be sent to FSI; drones to undergo technical examination.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 30 Mar2026Operation Tara / Operation Throwover - Gardaí seize Two Drones and €7,000 Controlled Drugs, West Dublin, 30th March 2026
Garda press release confirming three men charged (one in his 20s arrested 27 March, two in their 20s and 30s arrested 28 March), two drones seized (approx €2,500 and €3,000), and €7,000 controlled drugs; drugs to be sent to FSI for analysis and drones to undergo technical examination.
accused, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, maleaccused, 30s, male