Case No. 1577Possession of controlled drugs (heroin, cocaine) for sale or supply · Co. Meath · 27 May 2025
Two men remanded over €5.3m heroin and cocaine seizure in Castletown, Co Meath
Joseph Sherry, 61, and garden centre owner Matthew Farrell, 63, were remanded in custody at Navan District Court after being charged with unlawful possession of €5.3 million worth of heroin and cocaine seized at a yard in Castletown, Co Meath, on 27 May 2025, allegedly linked to a Dutch crime group with UK ties.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested27 May
3 reports - Charged27 May
3 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men were arrested following the seizure of 20kg of heroin and 37kg of cocaine worth approximately €5.39 million in Co Meath on 27 May 2025. (garda.ie)
- what€5.4m of diamorphine and cocaine was seized in a joint operation in Co Meath on 27 May 2025. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested in Co Meath following a drug seizure (irishtimes.com)
- what20kg of heroin and 37kg of cocaine were seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe estimated value of the seizure is €5,390,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two men arrested are aged in their 60s (irishtimes.com)
- whatRevenue officers seized 20kg of heroin and 37kg of cocaine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe drugs had an estimated value of approximately €5,400,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHeroin and cocaine valued at €5.3 million were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJoseph Sherry, 61, is from Allagesh, Smithborough, Co Monaghan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMatthew Farrell, 63, is a garden centre owner from Lisagoan in Kingscourt, Co Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth Sherry and Farrell were present at the yard, along with an 11-year-old child. (irishmirror.ie)
- what€2.8 million worth of heroin and €2.59 million worth of cocaine was discovered in concrete blocks on 11 pallets in the container. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found at a premises at Leggagh, Castletown, Navan. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe drugs were seized at Leggagh, Castletown, Co Meath, on Tuesday, 27 May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereA container was detected at Dublin Port from Rotterdam. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereA controlled delivery was made to a yard at Clover Buildings at Leggagh in Castletown. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenFarrell allegedly rented the shed on 1 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe two men in their 60s are detained at a Garda Station in Meath under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations remain ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was conducted by a joint operation of Revenue Customs officials and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe men are being held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrests were made as a result of an intelligence-led operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo males, both in their 60s, were arrested and detained at a Garda Station in Meath under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda Ben McGarry arrested Sherry at 12.50pm on Thursday for the purpose of charge and charged him at 12.54pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetective Garda Paul Cullen arrested Matthew Farrell at 12.42pm on Thursday for the purpose of charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe two men have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with unlawful possession of drugs and possession for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth men were charged with unlawful possession of heroin and cocaine and unlawful possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThey are due to appear before Navan District Court on 29 May 2025 at 4pm. (garda.ie)
- courtThe men appeared before Judge Eirinn McKiernan at a special sitting of Navan District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge McKiernan refused bail due to the seriousness of the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth men were remanded in custody to appear by video link before Trim District Court on 3 June. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth men appeared before Judge Eirinn McKiernan at Navan District Court on Thursday evening, 29 May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA file is being prepared for the DPP, where further serious charges are anticipated. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge McKiernan remanded both men in custody to appear before Trim District Court on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTwo men aged in their 60s were arrested in relation to the investigation. (garda.ie)
- otherMatthew Farrell is a garden centre owner. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth men made no reply when charged. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSherry lives mainly in the UK and had arrived in Ireland that morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFarrell allegedly ordered cement blocks from what appears to be a fictitious company in The Netherlands. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 29 May2025Two men in court over €5.3m drug seizure linked to 'sophisticated' Dutch gang
Both men remanded in custody to appear at Trim District Court on 3 June 2025; a file is being prepared for the DPP with further serious charges anticipated.
suspect, Joseph Sherry, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Sherrysuspect, Matthew Farrell, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Farrell - 29 May2025Garden centre owner and another man appear in court over €5.3m drug seizure
First court appearance; both men made no reply, bail refused, remanded to Trim District Court on 3 June.
accused, Joseph Sherry, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Sherryaccused, Matthew Farrell, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Farrell - 29 May2025Two arrested as €5.4 million of heroin and cocaine seized in Meath
Initial arrest announcement confirming the joint operation involved Revenue's Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and the Meath/Westmeath Divisional Drugs and Crime Units; both men detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996; seizure linked to organised crime groups.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 28 May2025Heroin, cocaine ‘worth €5.4 million’ seized in Co Meath
Reports the initial arrest and provides specific seizure details (20kg heroin, 37kg cocaine, €5,390,000 value), the joint Revenue/Garda operation, and Section 2 detention status.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 27 May2025Update: Court Appearance –Joint Operation – Seizure of €5.4m of Diamorphine, Cocaine and Arrests, Co. Meath, 27th May 2025
Confirms the two men have been charged and provides their court appearance date and time at Navan District Court.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 27 May2025Joint Operation – Seizure of €5.4m of Diamorphine, Cocaine and Arrests, Co. Meath, 27th May 2025
Official Garda press release confirming the arrest and providing specific quantities (20kg heroin, 37kg cocaine) and the full list of joint operation partners.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 60s, male