Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Each case starts with a news report. The line beside it follows the case through arrest, charge, court and sentence. A dashed step means no outlet reported it, though a later step shows it happened.

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4 cases in Galway, latest report first

  1. No. 0163

    Eight men charged with violent disorder at Ballinasloe horse fair

    Violent disorder · Galway

    Suspect: Bernard Cawley, Irish man, 24 (judged from name)Bernard CawleySuspect: John Ward, Irish man, 29 (judged from name) (reports differ: 20)John WardSuspect: Patrick Ward, Irish man, 29 (judged from name)Patrick WardSuspect: Bernard Ward, Irish man, 25 (judged from name)Bernard WardSuspect: Bernard McDonagh, Irish man (judged from name)Bernard McDonaghSuspect: Joe Joyce, Irish man, 24 (judged from name)Joe JoyceSuspect: Gerry Ward, Irish man, 18 (judged from name)Gerry WardSuspect: man, 20s (reports differ: 30s, juvenile)

    On Saturday 10 October 2026, a violent disorder incident occurred at St Michael's Square in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, during the closing day of the International Horse Fair, and Gardaí on proactive patrol arrested six men. Eight men, aged 18 to 30, were subsequently charged with violent disorder, with Joe Joyce facing two charges relating to both St Michael's Square and the Marina car park. The men appeared before a special sitting of Loughrea District Court on Sunday 11 October 2026, where Judge Olivia Traynor remanded all eight on bail with exclusion conditions. Seven were set to appear before Ballinasloe District Court on 26 November 2026, while Joyce was set to appear on 3 December 2026, and Gardaí indicated further charges may be brought against the accused and other individuals.

    In court11 Oct

    3 reports from garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com

  2. No. 0174

    Three men plead guilty over planned Galway mosque bombing

    Attempted terrorist activity · Galway

    Suspect: Garrett Pollock, Irish man, 36 (judged from name)Garrett PollockSuspect: Darren Gorman, Irish man, 34 (judged from name)Darren GormanSuspect: Karolis Peckauskas, non-Irish man, 39 (judged from name)Karolis Peckauskas

    Three men, Garrett Pollock (36), Darren Gorman (34) and Karolis Peckauskas (39), planned to attack the Maryam Mosque in Galway using improvised explosive devices as part of a group calling itself the Irish Defence Army. The plot was foiled on 4 November 2025 when Gardaí stopped Pollock and Peckauskas in a black BMW in Portlaoise during a routine drug stop and found bomb-making equipment, a manifesto and a statement claiming responsibility for the bombing. Pollock pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance and Peckauskas to attempting to engage in terrorist activity, an offence aggravated by hatred. At the Special Criminal Court in October 2026, mitigation pleas were heard and sentencing was adjourned to 13 October 2026, with all three men remanded in custody.

    Convicted5 Oct

    2 reports from irishtimes.com

  3. No. 0198

    High Court orders Galway City Council to pause tree felling at Merlin Woods

    Injunction - unlawful removal of trees · Galway

    Victim: Tom Flynn, Irish man (judged from name)Tom Flynn

    Galway City Council was ordered by the High Court to pause tree felling at Merlin Woods, a forest on the outskirts of the city, after Tom Flynn was granted a temporary injunction on 5 October 2026 on behalf of Friends of Merlin Woods. The council had begun felling works in response to damage caused by Storm Éowyn in January 2025, with a project to fell 15.41 hectares of the woodland. Friends of Merlin Woods allege the council is engaged in the unlawful removal of trees, and the council has already cleared about 3.5 hectares. Judge Richard Humphreys indicated the case could return the following week.

    In court5 Oct

    1 report from irishtimes.com

  4. No. 0208

    Woman arrested over six-year poison pen campaign against Loughrea couple

    Harassment · Galway

    Victim: David Plower, Irish man (judged from name)David PlowerVictim: Susan Plower, Irish woman (judged from name)Susan PlowerSuspect: woman, 40s

    A woman in her 40s was arrested in Galway on 1 October 2026 on suspicion of sending more than 500 anonymous harassing letters to David and Susan Plower of Loughrea, Co Galway, over a six-year period from January 2020. The letters carried the recurring taunt 'Catch us if you can' and included details of the couple's movements, vehicle registration plates, and a hospital appointment described in a letter sent to Susan Plower's workplace. The suspect, who is known to the Plower family, was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the Northwestern Region, and detectives seized phones and computers for analysis. Sources said she was expected to be released without charge pending the preparation of a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Arrested2 Oct

    3 reports from irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com