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. 0413Burglary, possession of controlled drugs · Co. Dublin · 13 Aug 2026

Two men charged over €1.2m cannabis seized in Blackhall Square burglary, Dublin 7

Three men wearing balaclavas and armed with a hammer broke into an apartment at Blackhall Square, Dublin 7, on 13 August 2026, and 90 packages of cannabis worth €1.2m were found in suitcases. A Chinese national, a male in his 40s, was found with his hands cable-tied behind his back. Aaron Mulhall (31) and Gary Hanley (37), both Irish, were charged with unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply on 13 August 2026. At Dublin District Court on 14 August, Hanley was remanded in custody and Mulhall was remanded pending bail lodgement. Both are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 15 August 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Aug
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three men wearing balaclavas and armed with a hammer broke into an apartment, and 90 packages of cannabis worth €1.2m were found in suitcases.
  • A Chinese national was found with his hands cable-tied behind his back, and a hidden camera was found on a suitcase having been fitted behind a fire safety sign the previous night.
Where
The burglary took place at an apartment at Blackhall Square, Dublin 7.
When
The burglary and charges occurred on 13 August 2026, with the camera fitted the previous night.
Investigation
Gardaí observed three males exiting the apartment, two with suitcases; Mulhall was arrested in the hall, another man was stopped nearby, and the third escaped.
Charges
Aaron Mulhall (31) and Gary Hanley (37), both Irish, were charged with unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply on 13 August 2026.
In court
  • At Dublin District Court on 14 August 2026, Hanley made no reply, deferred his bail application, and was remanded in custody; Mulhall was remanded pending lodgement of €750 from him and €10,000 from an independent surety.
  • Judge Clancy set the independent surety at €25,000, of which €10,000 must be handed over in court, with bail conditions including no contact with witnesses, surrendering his passport, a curfew, and daily sign-on.
  • Both are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ 2) on 15 August 2026.
Other details
  • The apartment occupants were a male and a female, both Chinese nationals in their 40s, who fled the scene.
  • Mulhall was found in possession of approximately €10,000, three mobile phones, and a passport belonging to a named Chinese national.
  • Mulhall maintains he did not have the suitcase and was unaware of its contents, and the detective conceded there was no evidence of Mulhall installing the camera.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man and a woman, both in their 40s, were arrested in connection with burglaries in South Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whatNinety individual packages of cannabis worth €1.2 million were found in suitcases. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree males wearing balaclavas and armed with a hammer broke into the apartment. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA Chinese national was found with his hands tied with cable ties behind his back. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA hidden camera was found on top of one suitcase, having been fitted behind a fire safety sign the previous night. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMulhall was found in possession of approximately €10,000, three mobile phones, and a passport belonging to a named Chinese national. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe apartment door had been forced open. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí observed three males exiting the apartment, two of them with suitcases. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMulhall was arrested in the hall, another man was stopped a short distance away, and the third escaped. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe apartment occupants were a male and a female, both Chinese nationals, who had fled the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe Chinese man was observed by a neighbour with his hands tied together with cable ties behind his back. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe cable-tied man was also seen on CCTV. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe suitcases contained 90 individual packages of cannabis. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA hidden camera was found on top of one of the suitcases. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe camera had been fitted behind a fire safety sign in the hallway outside the apartment the previous night. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMulhall has eye-related health problems. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe burglary took place at an apartment at Blackhall Square, Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whereAaron Mulhall is from Clay Farm Drive, Leopardstown Drive, Dublin 18. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGary Hanley is from North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe charges were brought on 13 August 2026. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe man and woman have been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeTwo men were charged with unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply on 13 August 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMulhall and Hanley were charged with unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThey are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ 2) on 15 August 2026. (garda.ie)
  • courtHanley made no reply when charged, deferred his bail application, and was remanded in custody. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMulhall was remanded in custody pending lodgement of €750 from him and €10,000 from an independent surety. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJudge Clancy set the independent surety at €25,000, of which €10,000 must be handed over in court. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtBail conditions include no contact with witnesses or co-accused, surrendering his passport, a curfew, and signing on daily at his local garda station. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe occupants of the apartment were a male and a female, both Chinese nationals, who fled the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMulhall is a father of one and unemployed. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherMulhall maintains he did not have the suitcase and was unaware of its contents. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe detective conceded there was no evidence of Mulhall installing the camera the night beforehand. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMulhall had eye-related health problems. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Aug2026
    In courtdublinlive.ie, first report
    Two charged over €1.2m cannabis haul after burglary involving cable-tied victim

    Details of the burglary including the cable-tied Chinese male occupant, the hidden camera, the 90 packages of cannabis, and bail conditions set by Judge Áine Clancy at Dublin District Court for both accused.

    accused, Aaron Mulhall, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Mulhallaccused, Gary Hanley, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Hanleyvictim, male, Chinese, non-irishvictim, female, Chinese, non-irish
  2. 15 Aug2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Pair charged over €1.2m cannabis haul after burglary involving cable-tied victim

    Details of the burglary including the cable-tied Chinese victim, the hidden camera, the 90 packages of cannabis in suitcases, the items found on Mulhall, and the bail conditions imposed by Judge Clancy.

    suspect, Aaron Mulhall, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Mulhallsuspect, Gary Hanley, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Hanleyvictim, male, Chinese, non-irishvictim, female, Chinese, non-irish
  3. 15 Aug2026
    In courtgarda.ie, follow-up
    15/08/2026 Update (1) Court Appearance: Operation Thor - Man and Woman Arrested in Connection with Burglaries in South Dublin, 14th August 2026

    Confirms the man and woman have been charged and are appearing before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ 2) on 15 August 2026.

    suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, female