Irish granny and grandson prosecuted following 'most bizarre' seizure

A GRANDMOTHER and her grandson from Limerick pleaded guilty to drugs and money laundering charges as well as impeding a Garda investigation by throwing cannabis into a garden and a fridge freezer.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said it was one of the most bizarre cases he has come across during his considerable time on the bench.

Paul Crawford, aged 26, and Philomena O’Callaghan, aged 60, of Galtee View, O’Malley Park in the city pleaded guilty to a number of offences at Limerick Circuit Court.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case with the assistance of Sergeant Adrian Whelan and Detective Garda Sean Twomey.

On April 3, 2019, Gardai searched a property in Galtee View, O’Malley Park, Limerick city after obtaining a search warrant following confidential information.

Mr O’Sullivan said as Gardai forced entry Mr Crawford threw a bag into the front garden of an adjoining house which was retrieved. The barrister said cannabis herb worth €3,944, MDMA worth €1,550, a tick list, four mobile phones including one broken up by Mr Crawford, and €600 in cash were seized by Gardai at the property.

Mr O’Sullivan said Mr Crawford admitted selling cannabis but said the amphetamines were for personal use as he was due to attend a rave in Amsterdam and they were to be shared between 13 people.

The court heard Mr Crawford has 48 previous convictions, the majority of which are road traffic.

Erin O’Hagan, barrister for Mr Crawford, put it to Sgt Whelan that her client made admissions.

“Yes, at his home and after he was arrested,” said Sgt Whelan. The defence barrister asked about Mr Crawford saying the MDMA was for him and his friends for a rave in Amsterdam.

“He (Mr Crawford) described it as going to the pub and buying your friends’ pints. He said they would share it,” said Sgt Whelan.

While Mr Crawford was on bail on those alleged offences, Gardai, led by Det Garda Sean Twomey, raided the same property at Galtee View, O’Malley Park, on October 26, 2021.

Prosecuting barrister Mr O’Sullivan said Gardai seized €2,714 worth of cannabis including some that was in the fridge freezer.

“There was a large black handbag that had €1,845 in the front of it, €6,700 in a white envelope in the bag, €18,500 in two bundles in the lining of the bag. There was also a pink and yellow pencil case on the kitchen table that had €1,100 in it. Mr Crawford had €1,325 on his person,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The total amount of cash seized was over €28,000.

When interviewed by Gardai, Mr Crawford said he has been smoking cannabis since the age of 12, he buys a half bar for €900, looks after his friends and “I get my smoke for free”.

He told Gardai the €6,700 was from selling a car, the €1,325 was from a raffle he was running on Facebook for a gold chain and his grandmother had got a €20,000 loan from the Credit Union. Mr Crawford said the cannabis was in the freezer “to keep it fresh”.

Mr O’Sullivan said a tick list was found with names of those who owed money for drugs totalling €59,300.

Mr Crawford denied running “quite a considerable drug enterprise”. He was later charged with money laundering and the sale or supply of drugs.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “It was a clear and unequivocal breach of bail.”

Mr Crawford’s co-accused and grandmother Philomena O’Callaghan was arrested a week later and charged with allowing drug dealing to take place at that address; money laundering and obstructing the investigation by putting cannabis in the freezer.

Mr O’Sullivan said Ms O’Callaghan, a cook with Limerick Youth Service for 29 years, told Gardai that she had got a €20,000 loan from the Credit Union for home improvements.

The barrister said the grandmother told Gardai that €11,000 was for a daughter to get her teeth repaired in Turkey, €7,500 was for her granddaughter, €1,800 was from a Christmas Club and she was minding the €6,700 in a white envelope for her grandson who has been living with her all his life.

Mr O’Sullivan said Ms O’Callaghan couldn’t explain to Gardai why the figures did not add up.

The barrister asked Det Garda Twomey if legitimate sources for the money were found? “No,” said Det Garda Twomey.

Eimear Carey, barrister for Ms O’Callaghan, said her client is 60 years-old, “buried her head in the sand” and has no previous convictions. The barrister asked the detective if he expects the grandmother to come before a court again. “No,” said Det Garda Twomey.

Ms O’Hagan, barrister for Mr Crawford, said her client wishes to apologise to the court and to his grandmother

“This is his first time before this court. He started abusing drugs at a young age. It snowballed,” said Ms O’Hagan, who added that he would have loved to have been a mechanic.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said it was one of the most bizarre cases he has come across during his considerable time on the bench.

“It is bad enough he was caught once but then a second time and ably assisted by his grandmother is bizarre,” said Judge O’Donnell, who spoke of Ms O’Callaghan’s long service with Limerick Youth Service.

“They deal with a lot of young people with considerable drug issues and she will know that. I am not satisfied that she ‘buried her head in the sand’. She was an active participant and told tales of getting teeth fixed in Turkey which didn’t add up,” said

Judge O’Donnell, who also spoke of her efforts to conceal drugs in a freezer.

Turning to Mr Crawford, the judge said it was an enterprise run out of the address where his grandmother lived.

“I’ve said time and time again if people want to get involved with selling drugs they will have to accept the consequences,” said Judge O’Donnell.

He sentenced Mr Crawford to two and-a-half years in prison for the offences on April 3, 2019. It was backdated to October 26, 2021 as Mr Crawford has been on remand in custody since then.

A further two and-a-half year sentence was imposed for the offences on October 26, 2021. It is to be served consecutively to the two and a half years Mr Crawford received for the 2019 offences.

Judge O'Donnell imposed a two year suspended sentence on Ms O’Callaghan.