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. 7682Firearms possession · Co. Westmeath · 9 Aug 2023

Father and son granted bail after sawn-off shotgun charge in Mullingar

On Wednesday 9 August 2023 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, a car of interest failed to stop for gardaí for a period of time, and a male passenger fled on foot and was arrested. A second occupant, a man in his 50s, was also arrested, and gardaí seized a firearm and ammunition, which were reported as a sawn-off shotgun and five cartridges. John Joe Nevin, 54, and David Nevin, 32, were charged with Firearms Act offences, with John Joe also facing three dangerous driving charges, and appeared at Mullingar District Court on Thursday 10 August 2023. Both were held on €21,000 bail and remanded in custody with consent to bail pending their next hearing at Longford District Court, and they have yet to indicate a plea.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested9 Aug
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court9 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí arrested two men and seized a firearm and ammunition in Mullingar.
  • A car of interest failed to stop for gardaí for a period of time, and a male occupant fled on foot and was chased and arrested.
  • A second occupant, a man in his 50s, was also arrested.
Where
The arrests and seizure took place in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, and the offences took place at Columb Drive.
When
The arrests and seizure took place on Wednesday 9 August 2023.
Weapon
Sources report a sawn-off pump action shotgun and five cartridges allegedly found in the possession of the two men, or a firearm and ammunition seized from a bag discarded during the foot chase.
Cause
Gardaí linked the case to an ongoing feud between members of the Travelling community.
Investigation
  • The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in Mullingar, with follow-up searches at residential premises and items of evidence seized.
  • Investigations are ongoing, and the investigating gardaí are to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. CCTV footage from the incident had not yet been obtained.
Charges
  • John Joe Nevin, 54, and David Nevin, 32, were charged with Firearms Act offences for unlawful possession of the weapon and five cartridges.
  • John Joe Nevin also faces three additional charges for dangerous driving at Ashe Road, Columb Drive and Cathedral View during the same incident.
In court
  • The two men appeared before Mullingar District Court on Thursday 10 August 2023 at a special sitting before Judge Patricia Cronin.
  • Each man was held on €21,000 bail, and the two men were remanded in custody with consent to bail pending their next hearing at Longford District Court.
  • The men have yet to indicate how they will plead.
Sentence
The firearms charge can attract a maximum sentence of 14 years.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested two men and seized a firearm. (garda.ie)
  • whatA plain clothes garda patrol directed a car of interest to stop, and the car failed to stop for a period of time. (garda.ie)
  • whatA male occupant fled the vehicle and was chased and arrested by gardaí. (garda.ie)
  • whatA second occupant of the vehicle, a male in his 50s, was also arrested. (garda.ie)
  • whatA sawn-off pump action shotgun and five cartridges were allegedly found in the possession of the two men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe investigation concerns organised criminal activity in Mullingar. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe arrests and seizure took place in Mullingar. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at Columb Drive in Mullingar. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe two men were arrested on Wednesday 9 August 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe arrests and seizure took place on Wednesday 9 August 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have occurred on August 9. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe gardaí linked the case to an ongoing feud between members of the Travelling community. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponA firearm and ammunition were seized after a bag discarded during the foot chase was recovered. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in Mullingar. (garda.ie)
  • investigationFollow-up searches were carried out at residential premises in the Mullingar area and items of evidence were seized. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage from the incident had not yet been obtained. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigating gardaí are to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged the two men. (garda.ie)
  • chargeDavid Nevin and John Joe Nevin were charged with offences under the Firearms Act for unlawful possession of the weapon and five cartridges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJohn Joe Nevin has three additional charges for dangerous driving in the town during the same incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe two men are due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Thursday 10 August 2023 at 7.30pm. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe father and son were each held on €21,000 bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men were remanded in custody with consent to bail pending their next hearing at Longford District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men have yet to indicate how they will plead. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe firearms charge can attract a maximum sentence of 14 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth men were taken to a Garda station in Co. Westmeath and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. (garda.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Aug2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Father and son held on bail after shotgun charge in Mullingar

    First report of this incident. Covers the bail hearing and charges: a father and son charged under the Firearms Act, with John Joe Nevin also facing three dangerous driving charges, linked to an ongoing feud and the bail conditions set by the judge.

    accused, John Joe Nevin, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Joe Nevinaccused, David Nevin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Nevin
  2. 9 Aug2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Firearm Seized and Two Arrests, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, 9th August 2023

    Garda press release confirming the arrests of a male in his 30s and a male in his 50s and the seizure of a firearm and ammunition. It names neither man and does not mention charges. It describes the men as being detained under Section 30, while the existing case records charges and a bail hearing.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, male
  3. 9 Aug2023
    In courtgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance: Firearm Seized, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, 9th August 2023

    Official garda.ie notice that the two men were charged and due before Mullingar District Court on 10 August 2023 at 7.30pm, with their ages given as 30s and 50s. It does not name them or mention the firearm.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, 50s, male