Thursday 29 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. 8814Train robbery · Co. Kildare · 31 Mar 1976

Conviction for 1976 Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice

The Sallins mail train robbery took place in Co Kildare on 31 March 1976, when an estimated £200,000 was stolen after a Cork-to-Dublin train was diverted. A man named Osgur Breatnach was found guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in December 1978 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. His conviction was quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled his confession had been obtained under oppression. The latest development is a Court of Appeal ruling, reported on 1 July 2026, that his conviction was a miscarriage of justice based on newly discovered alibi evidence.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
An estimated £200,000 was stolen in the robbery.
Where
The Cork-to-Dublin train was diverted near the Co Kildare town of Sallins.
When
The robbery took place on 31 March 1976.
Investigation
During interrogation, three men signed alleged confessions and all exhibited injuries they claimed were inflicted by gardaí.
In court
  • Breatnach was found guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in December 1978.
  • Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said at the Court of Appeal that the newly discovered fact shows a miscarriage of justice occurred, and the court was satisfied the threshold for a miscarriage of justice certificate had been met.
Sentence
Breatnach was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Cause
Breatnach's conviction was quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled his confession had been obtained under oppression.
Other details
  • The newly discovered fact concerned alibi evidence, which the Director of Public Prosecutions did not dispute.
  • Breatnach asserts in his affidavit that he had no hand, act or part in the robbery.
  • The IRA claimed responsibility for the theft within the same month as Breatnach's release.
  • A group of five human rights organisations welcomed the ruling and called for an independent public investigation into the case.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn estimated £200,000 was stolen in the robbery. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe Cork-to-Dublin train was diverted near the Co Kildare town of Sallins. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe Sallins mail train robbery took place on 31 March 1976. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeBreatnach's conviction was quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled his confession had been obtained under oppression. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationDuring interrogation, three men signed alleged confessions and all exhibited injuries they claimed were inflicted by gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBreatnach was found guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in December 1978. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy said at the Court of Appeal that a newly discovered fact shows a miscarriage of justice occurred. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe court was satisfied that the threshold for granting a miscarriage of justice certificate had been met. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceBreatnach was sentenced to 12 years in prison. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe newly discovered fact concerned alibi evidence. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe Director of Public Prosecutions did not dispute that the alibi evidence was a newly discovered fact. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherBreatnach asserts in his affidavit that he had no hand, act or part in the robbery. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe IRA claimed responsibility for the theft within the same month as Breatnach's release. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherA group of five human rights organisations welcomed the ruling and called for an independent public investigation into the case. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    Otherthejournal.ie, first report
    Man's wrongful conviction for 1976 Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice

    Court of Appeal ruling that Breatnach's wrongful conviction for the 1976 Sallins train robbery was a miscarriage of justice, citing newly discovered alibi evidence; no existing case matches.

    convicted, Osgur Breatnach, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Osgur Breatnach