Friday 30 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.

Case No. 16628Possession of military equipment without lawful authority (alleged theft) · Co. Kildare · 27 Apr 2021

Army officer goes on trial over alleged possession of military equipment at Curragh Camp

An army officer is on trial before a summary court martial over alleged stealing of military equipment, including ammunition, at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare, with the alleged possession dated to 27 April 2021. The trial opened in Dublin on 15 July 2024 at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, and the officer, a man whose name and age are not given, pleaded not guilty to 10 charges. Prosecutors conceded that a 2018 WhatsApp-based charge was out of time, and the defence applied for two charges to be withdrawn as statute barred. The latest development is that the judge reserved judgement on an application to dismiss the remaining charge, with around 20 witnesses expected over about two weeks.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
An army officer, a man whose name and age are not given, is on trial over alleged stealing of military equipment, including ammunition.
Where
The alleged offences took place at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare.
When
The possession charges relate to events at the Curragh Camp on 27 April 2021.
Charges
  • He is accused of four counts of possessing military equipment, including 149 rounds of ammunition, without lawful authority.
  • He is charged with possessing a box containing ammunition not issued by military authorities for service purposes and retaining it at the Curragh Camp.
  • He is accused of falsely telling military police on 27 April 2021 that he could not identify the box and its contents.
  • He is accused of falsely telling a superior officer on 9 December 2021 that he had approval to dispose of military equipment by giving it to a businessman.
In court
  • The trial opened on 15 July 2024 before a summary court martial at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin.
  • He pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges.
  • Military judge Colonel Michael Campion has directed extensive reporting restrictions on the case.
  • The defence applied for two charges to be withdrawn as statute barred.
  • Prosecutors conceded that a 2018 WhatsApp-based charge was out of time.
  • The judge reserved judgement on the application to dismiss the remaining charge.
Other details
The court martial involves around 20 witnesses and is expected to last about two weeks.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn army officer went on trial before a court martial over alleged stealing of military equipment, including ammunition, at the Curragh Camp. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at the Curragh Camp in Kildare. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe possession charges relate to events at the Curragh Camp on 27 April 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe officer is accused of four counts of possessing military equipment, including 149 rounds of ammunition, without lawful authority. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe officer is charged with possessing a box containing ammunition not issued by military authorities for service purposes, and retaining it at the Curragh Camp. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe officer is accused of falsely telling military police on 27 April 2021 that he could not identify the box and its contents. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe officer is accused of falsely telling a superior officer on 9 December 2021 that he had approval to dispose of military equipment by giving it to a businessman. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defendant pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before a summary court martial at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMilitary judge Colonel Michael Campion directed extensive reporting restrictions on the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence applied for two charges to be withdrawn as statute barred. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtProsecutors conceded that a 2018 WhatsApp-based charge was out of time. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge reserved judgement on the application to dismiss the remaining charge. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe court martial involves around 20 witnesses and is expected to last about two weeks. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jul2024
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Army officer goes on trial over alleged stealing of ammunition and military equipment from Curragh Camp

    First report of the court martial trial, which opened in Dublin on 15 July 2024; it gives the charges, the not guilty plea, the reporting restrictions and the trial's expected length.

    accused, male