Wednesday 28 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. 5837Drug trafficking (cocaine) · Co. Dublin

Two men arrested after cocaine and cash seized in South Dublin

On Thursday 16 May 2024, gardaí seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €160,000 from a vehicle in Sallynoggin and €78,460 in cash from a residential property in Ballybrack, South County Dublin, as part of an operation targeting an organised crime group. Joe Donogher (54) and Darren Shields (47) were arrested and charged with cocaine possession and possession for sale or supply. On Saturday 18 May 2024 both men appeared at Dublin District Court, where they were granted €3,000 bail with conditions. Donogher must return to court on 4 September and Shields on 26 July.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested16 May
    3 reports
  3. Charged16 May
  4. In court18 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €160,000, subject to analysis, and €78,460 in cash; one court report gives the overall seizure value as €150,000.
Where
The cocaine was found in a vehicle search in the Sallynoggin area, and the cash was seized in a follow-up search of a residential property in Ballybrack.
When
The seizure took place on Thursday 16 May 2024.
Cause
The searches targeted an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs in South County Dublin.
Investigation
Officers from the Dublin Crime Response Team carried out the searches as part of Operation Tara, a national anti-drugs strategy.
Other details
Two men, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Region.
Charges
  • Donogher (54) is charged with unlawful possession of cocaine and having it for sale or supply at Pearse Villas, Sallynoggin, on 16 May 2024, and made no reply to the charges.
  • Shields (47) is charged with possessing cocaine and having it for sale or supply at Pearse Street, Sallynoggin, and with having part of the seizure in his van on 16 May 2024; he could face additional charges.
In court
  • Both men were due to appear at Criminal Courts of Justice (Court 2) on 18 May 2024, but they appeared before Judge David McHugh at Dublin District Court on that Saturday.
  • Both men were granted €3,000 bail with strict conditions; gardaí objected to bail, and Donogher was required to surrender his passport and sign on daily, while Shields had no passport and was granted bail after the judge was satisfied he had ties to the jurisdiction.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported; Donogher must return to court on 4 September and Shields on 26 July.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized suspected cocaine worth €160,000. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized €78,460 in cash. (garda.ie)
  • whatCocaine with an estimated street value of €160,000 was seized, subject to analysis. (garda.ie)
  • what€78,460 in cash was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatCocaine worth an estimated €160,000 was found. (dublinlive.ie)
  • what€78,460 in cash was found in the operation. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatTwo men were charged in connection with a €150,000 cocaine seizure in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe seizure took place in South East Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whereCocaine was recovered during a search of a vehicle in the Sallynoggin area. (garda.ie)
  • whereCash was seized during a follow-up search of a residential property in the Ballybrack area. (garda.ie)
  • whereCocaine was seized after a search of a vehicle in the Sallynoggin area. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereA follow-up search of a property in Ballybrack was carried out. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe charges relate to Pearse Villas, Sallynoggin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereCocaine with an estimated street value of €160,000 was recovered during a vehicle search in the Sallynoggin area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • where€78,460 in cash was seized in a follow-up search at a residential property in Ballybrack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe two men were arrested on Thursday 16 May 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Thursday 16 May 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe seizures took place on a Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team were targeting an organised crime group involved in drug supply in south County Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were carried out by officers attached to the Dublin Crime Response Team. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targeted an organised crime group involved in supplying controlled drugs in the area. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationShields was allegedly caught handing over a 2kg package of suspected cocaine worth €140,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationShields allegedly had a further €10,000 of cocaine in his van. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí recovered €78,460 from a shed at Shields's home. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe seizures were part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in drug sales and supply in South County Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationTwo men, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged the two men. (garda.ie)
  • chargeDonogher is accused of unlawful possession of cocaine and having it for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShields is accused of possessing cocaine and having it for sale or supply at Pearse Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShields could face additional charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe two men were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court 2). (garda.ie)
  • courtThe court appearance was set for Saturday 18 May 2024 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Judge David McHugh at Dublin District Court on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth men were granted bail with strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDonogher made no reply to the charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA garda feared Donogher would flee, believing he had a considerable amount of money. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDonogher's bail was set at €3,000 with conditions including surrendering his passport and signing on daily. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDonogher must return to court on September 4th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtShields had no passport. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtShields was granted €3,000 bail with conditions after the judge was satisfied he had ties to the jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtShields must return to court on July 26th. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo males, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were arrested. (garda.ie)
  • otherBoth men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Region. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTwo men were arrested. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe two males arrested were aged in their 50s and 40s. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe overall seizure was valued at €150,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShields worked as a flooring and carpet fitter and had a side job breeding and selling exotic animals. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, a national anti-drugs strategy. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 May2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two arrested as Gardai seize cocaine and cash as part of organised crime sting

    The article says the seizures took place on Thursday but does not give the date. The article is timestamped 17 May 2024 and was updated 20 May 2024, so the exact date is unclear and left empty. Two men, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

    suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  2. 18 May2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Landscaper and exotic animal breeder appear in court in connection with €150,000 cocaine seizure

    Names both accused, gives bail terms and next court dates, and adds details of the seizure, cash found at a shed, and the garda objections to bail.

    accused, Joe Donogher, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Donogheraccused, Darren Shields, 47, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Shields
  3. 17 May2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Two arrested after gardai seize cocaine and cash in South Dublin

    Reports a garda operation seizing cocaine and cash in Sallynoggin and Ballybrack and the arrest of two men aged in their 40s and 50s under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. The incident date is not stated.

    suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  4. 16 May2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, first report
    Operation Tara - Two Arrested Following the Seizure of Cocaine (€160,000) and Cash (€78,460) in South East Dublin on 16th May 2024

    Official garda.ie release giving the seizure details and arrests. It names no one, and no existing case covers this 16 May seizure.

    suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 40s, male
  5. 16 May2024
    Chargedgarda.ie, first report
    Court Appearance: Operation Tara - Seizure of Cocaine (€160,000) and Cash (€78,460) in South East Dublin on 16th May 2024

    Official garda.ie court-appearance release for the Operation Tara seizure; no earlier report of this seizure is in the case list.

    accused, 40s, maleaccused, 50s, male