Cork man accused of having €500k worth of cannabis fled to Spain, saying he was 'too hot in The Glen'

When gardaí attempted to arrest accused on his return from Spain, he rammed their patrol car, narrowly missing gardaí outside the car, court told

Gardaí objected to bail for the accused saying he had a significant drugs debt and would continue to be involved in a criminal enterprise to pay off the debt. File picture: Eddie O'Hare

A Garda car was rammed — narrowly avoiding gardaí outside the car — in the course of an investigation of the seizure days earlier of boxes of vacuum-packed cannabis totalling over €500,000 in Cork, it was alleged in court.

It was further alleged 24-year-old Daniel Kelleher, of 44 Mourne Avenue, The Glen, Cork, went to Spain following the seizure of drugs, returned and booked into the Radison Blu hotel and was planning to return to Spain when he was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply on January 22 at Arderrin Way, The Glen.

Evidence was given alleging Daniel Kelleher texted a friend saying he did not need to be around The Glen, where he was “too hot” and all he needed was two phones.

Detective Garda Rory Fogarty, who arrested, Daniel Kelleher, objected to bail and said of the accused: “He has a significant drugs debt because of this alleged incident. Gardaí strongly believe that he will continue to be involved in the criminal enterprise to pay off this debt if granted bail. 

"Evidence gleaned from his mobile phone indicates that he is still involved in the drugs trade and there are conversations observed where he is selling large amounts of cannabis and cocaine.” 

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said on behalf of the defendant his position was that “he had nothing to do with any of this”, that he was not caught with drugs in his possession and he would not return to Spain if given bail. 

Mr Burke also said despite evidence given by the detective, there were no driving-related charges against Daniel Kelleher.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded Daniel Kelleher in custody until April 16.

Det Garda Fogary said as part of an intelligence-led investigation into the sale and supply of cannabis in Cork City, gardaí attached to Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit put a surveillance operation in place to monitor the movements of Daniel Kelleher and a number of other individuals operating in The Glen area on the northside of Cork city.

“On January 22, Gardai observed [another man] enter a house at Imaal Court, The Glen, Cork, take a bag and place it into the rear of a Volkswagen Golf. Gardaí followed this car to North Monastery Road before stopping it for a search. €62,000 worth of cannabis was found. Surveillance was then continued at the house at Imaal Court.

“Gardai observed Daniel Kelleher arrive at Imaal Court, driving a Volkswagen Passat. He entered the Imaal Court address and was observed returning shortly after with another person, who was carrying a cardboard box, Daniel Kelleher then sits into the driver's seat of this vehicle and transports the box to Arderrin Way, The Glen, Cork.

“Gardaí observed cardboard boxes being removed and placed into a Grey Toyota Auris that is parked in the driveway of the address. Daniel Kelleher then leaves this address and travels back towards Immal Court. 

“A short time later, gardaí again observe Daniel Kelleher travelling towards Arderrin Way. In the passenger seat was another cardboard box, containing what appeared to be vacuum packed packaging. He is then seen leaving Arderrin Way. A search warrant is obtained for that property.

“During the search, the Toyota Auris parked in the front of the property, was a rubbish bag, containing 273kg of cannabis with a street value of €546,000 inside this vehicle. A certificate of analysis from Forensic Science Ireland has since been received documenting the weight of the cannabis seized.

“Gardaí then sought Daniel Kelleher for arrest. In the early hours of the 27th of January 2026, Daniel Kelleher was observed leaving Mourne Avenue, The Glen, Cork driving a Volkswagen Passat.

“On Sundays Well Road, gardaí in an unmarked patrol car activated the emergency lights, indicating for it to stop, which it did. Gardaí approached the Passat. Daniel Kelleher was in the driver's seat and there was another male in the front passenger seat. 

"While gardaí were approaching the Passat, Daniel Kelleher then accelerated the Passat at speed, ramming the patrol car, while narrowly avoiding the garda members present, making good his escape and failing to stop.” 

Gardaí believe Daniel Kelleher subsequently left the jurisdiction to avoid arrest by gardai, returned to Cork on March 31 and on Friday, April 3, booked into the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork. He was due to leave the hotel on Sunday April 5 and return to Spain but extended his stay for another two nights until Tuesday April 7. 

"On April 6, gardai encountered Daniel Kelleher travelling in a Volkswagen Tiguan at White’s Cross when he was arrested, when he allegedly tried to discard his phone.

“There is evidence on his mobile phone showing that he knew gardaí were actively looking to arrest him for this offence, that he had travelled to Spain shortly after the 23rd of January and that he was planning on returning to Spain without delay with the intention of staying there for a number of years. 

"In one Snapchat video message, he states that he was “too hot in the Glen” in reference to garda attention and that: "I’m going to get 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.” 

Gardaí say this shows it was Daniel Kelleher's intention to run his drug enterprise from Spain,” Det Garda Fogarty testified in the objection to bail.