Jailed over €2.6 million drugs haul

By Isabel Hayes

A former supermarket manager who was caught in possession of over €2.6 million in drugs – much of it stashed in his apartment spare room – has been jailed for eight years.

Gardaí from the National Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau were alerted to the drug dealing activities of Shane Mulvey (26) following a confidential tip-off, leading to them placing him under surveillance.

He was seen handing over one kilo of cocaine to another person at a car park in Swords and arrested, Detective Garda Val Russell told Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting.

A further 14 kilos of cocaine were found in a “sophisticated” concealed unit inside Mulvey’s car, with a street value of about €1 million, the court heard.

When Mulvey’s apartment in Shankill was searched, more cocaine was discovered stashed in his spare bedroom, along with amphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, a mixing agent, a counting machine and other drug paraphernalia.

€66,700 in cash was also seized. The total value of the drugs seized was €2.6 million, the court heard.

Mulvey, of Olcovar, Shankill, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply, one count of possessing the proceeds of crime and one count of possessing an article in connection with a crime. He has three minor previous convictions for road traffic offences.

There are other people before the court in relation to these offences, the court heard.

The court heard Mulvey comes from a “good” family and previously worked as an assistant manager in Aldi.

At the time of the offence, he had stopped working there and was not claiming social welfare, Det Gda Russell said.

Paul Murray SC, defending, said his client wanted to offer a sincere apology to society and his family for his offending behaviour.

He said Mulvey experienced some serious relationship issues and his life “fell apart” as a result.

He built up a substantial debt in relation to drugs and came under pressure to hold and deliver drugs, defence counsel said.

He has done well in custody and is now drug-free with clean urine results.

Sentencing Mulvey on Friday, Judge Martina Baxter said there was an organised and sophisticated background to this offending with Mulvey playing a vital role to assist those higher up.

She noted in mitigation his prior work history, his letter of apology, early guilty plea and his family circumstances.

She also took into account his efforts at rehabilitation and testimonials handed into court.

She said however this was a serious matter and the court could not overlook the amount of drugs involved, noting the devastating effect of drugs on the community and society in general.

Judge Baxter set a headline sentence of 11 years, before imposing a sentence of nine years with the final year suspended, taking into account all the circumstances of the case.

The sentence was backdated to when Mulvey went into custody in November 2024