Ireland Two men remanded over €472,000 cannabis seizure at Newmarket, Co Cork
Thomas Doody, 32, and Gavin Downey, 30, were remanded in custody at Fermoy District Court after being charged with possession and possession for sale/supply of 23.6kg of herbal cannabis worth €472,000, seized at a house in Glennamucklagh West, Newmarket, Co Cork, on 28 January 2026. Both are due to appear before Mallow District Court on 3 February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested28 Jan
3 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court28 Jan
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports57 statements extracted from the articles
- whatApproximately 23.6 kilograms of suspected herbal cannabis was seized. (garda.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €472,000. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested (corkbeo.ie)
- whatApproximately 23.6 kg of suspected herbal cannabis was seized (corkbeo.ie)
- whatAlmost 24kg of cannabis herb was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drugs had an estimated street value of €472,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatA 32-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- what23.5 kilograms of suspected herbal cannabis was seized (corkbeo.ie)
- what23.6kg of herbal cannabis with a street value of €472,000 was seized at a house in Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDoody panicked and threw a box in the air when gardaí arrived. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis was seized in Co. Cork. (garda.ie)
- whereThe arrested individuals were held in Garda Stations in County Cork. (garda.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in Co. Cork (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place at a house in the Newmarket area of north Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis was seized at a north Cork address (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe cannabis was seized at Glennamucklagh West in Newmarket. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe seizure took place on 28 January 2026. (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 28 January 2026 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe seizure was made at around 4pm on Wednesday afternoon (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí arrived at the scene at 2.30pm on 28 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations into the matter are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation was intelligence-led and involved the GNDOCB, Cork North West Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue Customs Service. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation involved Revenue Customs Service, GNDOCB and Cork North West Drugs Unit (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe suspects are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe seizure is part of Operation Tara (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe operation was a joint effort involving the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Cork North West Divisional Drugs Unit, and Revenue's Customs Service (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe three suspects are being held at Mallow and Fermoy garda stations under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe drugs will be sent for analysis to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory in Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThree arrests were made on Wednesday as part of an intelligence-led operation (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe operation was part of ongoing Operation Tara efforts (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí say investigations are ongoing (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe arrests were part of an intelligence-led operation involving the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Cork North West Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue Customs Service. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two men arrested in connection with the investigation have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe three arrested were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
- chargeTwo men in their 30s were charged in connection with the investigation (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with possession and possession for sale/supply of cannabis under sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe two men are due to appear before a special sitting of Fermoy District Court. (garda.ie)
- courtThe court appearance is scheduled for approximately 2:30pm on Friday, 30 January 2026. (garda.ie)
- courtThe two men are due to appear before a special sitting of Fermoy District Court at approximately 2:30pm on 30 January 2026 (corkbeo.ie)
- courtBoth men appeared before a special sitting of Fermoy District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Miriam Walsh remanded both in custody to appear before Mallow District Court on 3 February 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman arrested in the investigation has been released without charge. (garda.ie)
- otherThe woman's case is pending file to the DPP. (garda.ie)
- otherTwo males in their 30s were arrested. (garda.ie)
- otherOperation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021 (corkbeo.ie)
- otherA young woman arrested in connection was released without charge pending file to the DPP (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThomas Doody lived in Germany for a year from 2022 to 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDoody resides in a caravan at the rear of the property where he was arrested. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDoody was described as a drugs user. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGavin Downey is a father of five. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGavin Downey is a native of Mallow. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDoody made no reply when the charges were put to him after caution at 12.05pm. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDowney made no reply when the charges were put to him following caution at noon on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jan2026Two men appear in court over €472,000 cannabis seizure at Cork house
Court appearance at Fermoy District Court where both defendants were remanded in custody. Details on the operation (Operation Tara), the circumstances of the arrest (caught loading boxes into a car), and background on both defendants (Doody's time in Germany, Downey's family and Mallow origins) are provided.
accused, Thomas Doody, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Doodyaccused, Gavin Downey, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Downey - 30 Jan2026Two due in Cork court after cannabis seizure worth almost €500k
Reports the court appearance of two men charged over the cannabis seizure and confirms a young woman arrested in connection was released without charge pending file to the DPP.
accused, 30s, maleaccused, 30s, malesuspect, female - 29 Jan2026Three arrested after drugs worth almost €475k seized in Cork
Adds a third arrestee (26-year-old woman), details the joint operation with Revenue's Customs Service, confirms the drugs originated in Europe and were posted to the address, and notes the suspects are held at Mallow and Fermoy garda stations under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
suspect, 32, malesuspect, 30, malesuspect, 26, female - 28 Jan2026Three arrested as nearly €500k of cannabis seized in Cork
Initial arrest report identifying a third suspect (woman in her 20s) not named in the later court report; confirms multi-agency involvement of Revenue Customs Service, GNDOCB and Cork North West Drugs Unit under Operation Tara.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female - 28 Jan2026Operation Tara – Over €472,000 Cannabis Seized and Three Arrests, Co. Cork- 28th January 2026
Initial Garda press release confirming three arrests, including a female in her 20s not mentioned in the court report, and detailing the multi-agency operation involving GNDOCB, Cork North West Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue Customs Service.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female - 28 Jan2026Court Appearance - Operation Tara: Over €472,000 Cannabis Seized and Three Arrests, Co. Cork- 28th January 2026
Confirms the two men are due at a special sitting of Fermoy District Court at approximately 2:30pm on 30 January 2026 and that the woman arrested in the same investigation was released without charge pending file to the DPP.
accused, maleaccused, malesuspect, female