Daniel O’Donnell Superfan Molly Sloyan Rebuilds Life After Prison for Cocaine Smuggling Plot
CORK — Molly Sloyan, once a household name in Ireland for her viral television moment as a devoted Daniel O’Donnell fan, has resurfaced in the public eye for a very different reason: rebuilding her life after serving prison time for her involvement in a cocaine smuggling scheme.
Now 28, Sloyan was one of four individuals convicted in 2018 for operating what authorities described as a “sophisticated” plan to extract cocaine from fabric imported from Brazil. The elaborate operation, carried out in a rented Airbnb property in Bantry, Co. Cork, involved using chemicals to strip high-purity cocaine embedded into clothing and textiles. At the time of the arrests, the drugs were valued at approximately €70,000.
During her trial, Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Sloyan admitted to renting the Airbnb house and purchasing the chemicals used in the process. Though prosecutors described her role as significant, the court acknowledged that her then boyfriend, Sean McManus, was the ringleader. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Sloyan initially received a 10-year sentence, with three years suspended.
In 2019, however, the Court of Appeal reduced her sentence after ruling that the original tariff was “simply too high.” She was re-sentenced to five years, with 18 months suspended. Having already served 17 months, Sloyan was granted temporary release in October 2019 on the condition that she engage with the Probation Services for two years.
Since her release, Sloyan has maintained a relatively low profile, though she has recently given her social media followers a glimpse into her new chapter of life. Sharing a collection of personal photographs, she appears to be embracing travel, family, and quiet moments away from controversy. Images posted online show her alongside her mother and two dogs, enjoying holidays and relaxed outings.
In one photo, she is seen with her mother, both wearing face coverings as they pose beside a Christmas tree. Other images capture her sipping a cocktail, sitting on the steps of a historic building with one of her dogs, and lounging outdoors in denim shorts with a tropical backdrop. Another picture shows her dressed in a black skirt and large sunhat, gazing toward the ocean.
When asked online by a friend if she was currently in Spain, she clarified that some images were taken “over the last year” but added a teasing “Soon” when another follower inquired about her next trip abroad.
Her return to public attention has stirred memories of her earlier claim to fame. Sloyan first became known to Irish audiences in February 2016, when cameras caught her dramatic reaction during RTÉ’s Late Late Show. Sitting in the studio audience, her face shifted from pure delight to stunned disappointment when host Ryan Tubridy announced “Daniel” — only for comedian Mario Rosenstock, impersonating O’Donnell, to step out instead of the real star. The moment went viral, cementing Sloyan as a quirky footnote in Irish pop culture.
She eventually met her idol, but her newfound recognition was overshadowed just two years later when she was arrested as part of the cocaine extraction scheme. During sentencing in 2018, Judge Sean O’Donnabhain remarked that the group was running what amounted to a “factory” and that their operation represented a serious criminal enterprise.
Now, several years on, Sloyan’s life appears to have taken a different turn. While her past remains a stark reminder of the risks she once took, her recent photographs suggest she is focused on family, leisure, and starting anew. Whether she seeks to fully step back into the public spotlight remains uncertain, but for many observers, her story stands as a striking example of how quickly notoriety can shift — from viral stardom to criminal scandal, and, perhaps, toward personal redemption.