Sunday 1 November 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. 10655Drug offence · Co. Limerick · 28 Oct 2026

Woman remanded in custody over €644,000 drug seizure in Limerick

On 28 October 2026, Gardaí from the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €490,000 and heroin worth €154,000 during a warrant search at a residential property on Old Singland Road, Limerick, as part of Operation Tara. Karen McGarry, a 48-year-old mother of three, was arrested in connection with the seizure and charged with possession of cocaine for sale and supply and simple possession of cocaine under the Misuse of Drugs Act. She appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on 30 October 2026, made no reply to the charges, and was refused bail. She was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison and is due to appear again on 3 November 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested29 Oct
    4 reports
  3. Charged30 Oct
  4. In court30 Oct
    2 reports
  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 €490,000 and heroin with an estimated street value of €154,000, totalling approximately €644,000.
Where
The search was conducted under warrant at a residential property on Old Singland Road, Limerick, with most of the drugs found in a shed behind the home.
When
The seizure was made on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Investigation
  • The seizure was part of Operation Tara, targeting the distribution of controlled drugs in the Mid-West region, carried out by the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit.
  • A kilo of cocaine was sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, which confirmed the substance.
  • The accused was interviewed five times and allegedly made admissions that she was storing the drugs for unnamed individuals.
Charges
  • Karen McGarry was charged with possession of cocaine for sale and supply under Section 15 and simple possession of cocaine under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
  • More charges are expected and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In court
She appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on 30 October 2026, made no reply to the charges, and was refused bail.
Sentence
She was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison to await further directions, with a next appearance set for 3 November 2026.
Other details
It was alleged that €12,000 worth of cocaine was found under the accused's bed.
54 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €490,000. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie, garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized heroin with an estimated street value of €154,000. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie, garda.ie)
  • whatThe drugs found have an estimated total street value of approximately €644,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe seized drugs had an estimated street value of approximately €644,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of about €644,000 in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatCocaine with an estimated street value of €490,000 and heroin with an estimated street value of €154,000 were seized. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe total seizure of cocaine and heroin had an estimated street value of approximately €644,000. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe accused was refused bail after being charged in connection with a large cocaine and heroin seizure in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí from the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit seized suspected cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of approximately €644,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatCocaine worth €490,000 and heroin worth €154,000 were found when a council home was searched under a warrant. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatIt was alleged that €12,000 worth of cocaine was found under the accused's bed. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatDrugs with a value of €644,000 were seized. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe search was carried out under warrant at a residential property on Old Singland Road in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were seized on the Old Singland Road. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereA search under warrant was conducted at a residential property on Old Singland Road, Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a residential property on Old Singland Road, Limerick. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe accused lives at Glendale Lawn, Old Singland Road. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereMost of the drugs were found in a shed behind the home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched the accused's property under warrant. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were allegedly found in a shed and under the accused's bed. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe seizure was made on Wednesday, 28 October. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Wednesday, October 28. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe seizure was made on Wednesday 28 October 2026. (limerickpost.ie, garda.ie)
  • whenThe drugs were seized at her residence on Wednesday evening of the week of the article. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe drugs were seized on Wednesday 28 October. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure is part of an operation targeting the distribution of controlled drugs in the Mid-West region. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA woman aged in her 40s has been arrested in relation to the investigation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe search was conducted under warrant at a residential property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targeted the distribution of controlled drugs in the Mid-West region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 40s was arrested in connection with the drugs probe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie, limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was part of an operation targeting the distribution of controlled drugs in the Mid-West region. (limerickpost.ie, garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was made by gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was interviewed five times and allegedly made admissions that she was storing the drugs for unnamed individuals. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA kilo of cocaine was sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, which confirmed the substance. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeA woman in her 40s arrested in connection with the investigation has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with two offences and made no reply. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMore charges are expected and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged under Section 15 and Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeShe is charged with possession of cocaine for sale and supply. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeShe is also charged with simple possession of cocaine. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtShe is due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at 12:30pm on Friday 30 October 2026. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe judge decided to oppose the bail application. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe accused will next appear before Limerick District Court on November 3, from custody. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtShe made no reply to the charges at Limerick District Court. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtHer solicitor applied for bail, which was objected to by the prosecuting Detective Garda. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe judge refused bail. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceShe was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison to await further directions. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherA woman has been arrested after cocaine and heroin were seized in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe woman remains in garda custody in the Limerick area under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOperation Tara is a Garda initiative launched in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA woman in her 40s has been arrested in relation to the investigation. (limerickpost.ie, garda.ie)
  • otherThe arrested woman remains in Garda custody in the Limerick area, detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe woman remains in Garda custody in the Limerick area, detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996. (garda.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Oct2026
    In courtlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Mother of three wept in court after being refused bail

    Adds the court appearance on 30 October 2026: the charges, the bail refusal, the remand in custody to 3 November and the seizure details.

    accused, Karen McGarry, 48, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen McGarry
  2. 30 Oct2026
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    'Oh no. Please, I beg of you': Limerick mum in court charged with €644k drug seizure

    Adds that the accused was named, aged 48, charged with two offences and refused bail at a special sitting of Limerick District Court on 30 October. Also reports her alleged admissions, a file being prepared for the DPP, and her next court date.

    accused, Karen McGarry, 48, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen McGarry
  3. 30 Oct2026
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    30/10/2026 Court Appearance - Operation Tara: Cocaine and Heroin Seizure Valued at Approximately €644,000 in Limerick, 28th October 2026

    Confirms the woman arrested over the 28 October 2026 seizure has been charged and sets her court appearance for 12:30pm on 30 October 2026 at a special sitting of Limerick District Court.

    accused, 40s, female
  4. 29 Oct2026
    Arrestedgarda.ie, its first report
    29/10/2026 Operation Tara: Cocaine and Heroin Seizure Valued at Approximately €644,000 in Limerick, 28th October 2026

    Official Garda press release confirming the case, with the breakdown of the seizure (cocaine €490,000, heroin €154,000), the Operation Tara label, and the detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996. It names no one.

    suspect, 40s, female
  5. 29 Oct2026
    Arrestedlimerickpost.ie, its first report
    Cocaine and heroin valued €644,000 seized in Limerick

    Names the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit and splits the seizure into cocaine worth €490,000 and heroin worth €154,000. Says the arrested woman is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996 and that investigations are ongoing.

    suspect, 40s, female
  6. 29 Oct2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Woman arrested after Gardai seize more than €640k worth of cocaine and heroin

    First report of this incident. Gives the location, the cocaine and heroin values, the warrant-based search, the arrest of a woman in her 40s and her detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996.

    suspect, 40s, female
  7. 29 Oct2026
    Arrestedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    LIVE: Woman arrested after major heroin seizure in Limerick city

    Reports a warrant search on Old Singland Road, Limerick city, on 28 October 2026 with the seizure values and arrest of a woman in her 40s. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, 40s, female

Changed after publication

facts outlets added, removed or corrected

irishmirror.ie, 29 Oct 2026, 10:54: Woman arrested after Gardai seize more than €640k worth of cocaine and heroin

  • AddedThe search was conducted as part of Operation Tara.