A 24-year-aged man from Cork is facing charges after Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of over €500,000 during an intelligence-led operation on the city’s northside. The case, which unfolded over several months, involved high-speed pursuits, a flight to Spain, and a series of encrypted messages suggesting the accused intended to run a drug enterprise from abroad.
Daniel Kelleher, of 44 Mourne Avenue, The Glen, appeared in court where it was alleged he was central to a distribution network operating within the local community. The Cork man accused of having €500k worth of cannabis was charged with two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply following a series of coordinated raids and surveillance operations conducted by the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit.
The proceedings revealed a sequence of events that began in January and culminated in an arrest in April, highlighting the scale of the narcotics operation and the efforts made by the accused to evade capture. While the defense maintains Kelleher had no involvement in the drug trade, police presented evidence of a sophisticated logistics chain involving multiple vehicles and residences.
The Surveillance Operation in The Glen
According to testimony from Detective Garda Rory Fogarty, the investigation began as a targeted effort to dismantle the sale and supply of cannabis in Cork City. Gardaí established a surveillance perimeter in The Glen to monitor the movements of Kelleher and several other associates.
The operation first yielded results on January 22, when officers observed a man removing a bag from a residence at Imaal Court and placing it into a Volkswagen Golf. Following the vehicle to North Monastery Road, Gardaí conducted a search and recovered cannabis valued at €62,000. This initial seizure prompted intensified surveillance of the Imaal Court property.
Shortly thereafter, officers observed Kelleher arrive at the same address in a Volkswagen Passat. He was seen entering the house and returning with another individual carrying a cardboard box. Kelleher then transported the box to Arderrin Way, where Gardaí watched as the contents were transferred into a grey Toyota Auris parked in a driveway.
A subsequent search warrant for the Arderrin Way property led to the discovery of a rubbish bag inside the Toyota Auris containing 273kg of cannabis. Forensic Science Ireland later provided a certificate of analysis confirming the weight and nature of the drugs, which carried a street value of €546,000.
Escape and the ‘Too Hot’ Snapchat Messages
The investigation took a volatile turn in the early hours of January 27. Gardaí spotted Kelleher leaving Mourne Avenue in a Volkswagen Passat. When an unmarked patrol car attempted to signal the vehicle to stop on Sundays Well Road, the situation escalated rapidly.
Court evidence alleged that as Gardaí approached the car, Kelleher accelerated at high speed, ramming the patrol vehicle. The maneuver narrowly avoided hitting the officers on foot, allowing Kelleher to make a successful escape from the scene.
Following this encounter, Gardaí believe Kelleher fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest, traveling to Spain shortly after January 23. Though, digital evidence recovered from his mobile phone suggested he remained active in the trade. In one Snapchat video message, Kelleher reportedly told a friend he was “too hot in The Glen,” referring to the intense police attention in his neighborhood.
“I’m going to obtain back to the graft — all I need is two phones to make money, I don’t need to be around here at all, do you get me.”
Detective Garda Fogarty testified that these communications indicated a clear intention to manage and operate the drug enterprise remotely from Spain.
The Return to Cork and Arrest
Kelleher returned to Ireland on March 31, eventually booking into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island on April 3. Police surveillance indicated he had planned to return to Spain on April 5 but extended his stay for an additional two nights.
He was finally apprehended on April 6 while traveling in a Volkswagen Tiguan at White’s Cross. Gardaí alleged that Kelleher attempted to discard his phone during the arrest. The phone subsequently provided crucial evidence of his movements and his awareness that An Garda Síochána was actively seeking his arrest.
During the bail hearing, the prosecution strongly objected to Kelleher’s release. Detective Garda Fogarty stated that the accused faced a significant drug debt resulting from the seizure, and there was a substantial risk he would return to criminal activity to settle that debt.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| January 22 | Surveillance at Imaal Court and Arderrin Way | Seizure of 273kg cannabis (€546k value) |
| January 27 | Police stop on Sundays Well Road | Garda car rammed; suspect escapes |
| Late Jan – March | Flight to Spain | Suspect manages “graft” via mobile phones |
| March 31 | Return to Ireland | Suspect returns to Cork jurisdiction |
| April 6 | Arrest at White’s Cross | Suspect apprehended in VW Tiguan |
Legal Defense and Court Ruling
Defense solicitor Eddie Burke contested the allegations, stating that his client had “nothing to do with any of this.” He emphasized that Kelleher was not found in physical possession of drugs at the time of his arrest and noted that, despite the allegations regarding the patrol car, no formal driving-related charges had been brought against him.
Despite these arguments, Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail, citing the risks outlined by the prosecution. Kelleher has been remanded in custody.
Disclaimer: This report is based on allegations presented in court. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Daniel Kelleher is scheduled to appear back in court on April 16 for further proceedings.
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