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. 3791Possession of controlled drugs (cultivation of cannabis) · Co. Cork · 3 Sep 2023

West Cork sheep farmer given suspended sentence for cannabis farm

Daniel Kelleher, 53, a part-time sheep farmer from Ballingeary, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at three locations on his hillside farm in September 2023 and was given a fully suspended three-year sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe grew 52 cannabis plants with a street value of €42,400 at Lyrageeha, Ballingeary (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe grew 42 plants with a street value of €33,600 at Gurtnakilla, Ballingeary (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe grew 46 plants with a street value of €36,000 at Derryvaleen, Ballingeary (irishtimes.com)
  • whatStashes totalling 339 grammes of cannabis herb worth €6,084 and €25 worth of cannabis resin were found (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe total value of the plants under cultivation was €112,800 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe total value of all drugs seized was €119,609 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereKelleher is from Kilmore, Ballingeary, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe cannabis was cultivated in three plantations on clearings deep within the forestry only accessible on foot (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKelleher was arrested and brought to Bandon Garda station for questioning (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAfter receiving legal advice, Kelleher made admissions and told gardaí where to find his cannabis-growing operations (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to 10 different offences (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe entered a signed plea of guilty at an early stage (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelleher told gardaí he was no Pablo Escobar (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelleher was a 53-year-old single man who had trained as a plasterer and worked in construction (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe inherited the small hillside farm from his late uncle and was engaged in part-time sheep farming (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe may have been influenced in his views about cannabis by alternative types in the area to whom he had begun supplying the drug (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had given some cannabis free to some users but charged others for their deals (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelleher was working part-time on a Rural Social Scheme with Údarás na Gaeltachta (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn exceptionally positive probation report put him at a low risk of reoffending (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Feb2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Farmer tells gardaí he’s ‘no Pablo Escobar’ after arrest for cannabis farm in west Cork

    Reports the guilty plea and sentencing: Kelleher admitted growing 140 cannabis plants across three forestry clearings on his farm, with total drug value of €119,609. Judge Sinead Behan imposed a headline sentence of three years, suspended in full.

    convicted, Daniel Kelleher, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Kelleher