Ireland Four men arrested and gun seized on M50 over reported Belfast kidnap
On the night of Thursday 21 March 2024, armed Garda units intercepted a car on the M50 at Junction 4 Ballymun in Dublin shortly before 10pm, acting on information from the Police Service of Northern Ireland about a reported kidnap in Belfast. Four adult men, occupants of the car, were arrested at the scene for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, and a firearm was recovered from the vehicle. A fifth adult male occupant, reported missing from Belfast, was found safe and well. The four men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, and Garda issued a press release on 22 March 2024. The latest development is that the four men have been released without charge, a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and investigations are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested21 Mar
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Four men were arrested in connection with a reported kidnap in Belfast.
- Where
- The car was intercepted on the M50 at Junction 4 Ballymun in Dublin.
- When
- The car was intercepted on the night of Thursday 21 March 2024, shortly before 10pm.
- Cause
- Gardaí acted on information from the Police Service of Northern Ireland about a reported kidnap in Belfast.
- Weapon
- A firearm was recovered from the vehicle and is subject to technical and ballistic examination.
- Charges
- The four adult men were arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
- Other details
- A fifth adult male occupant of the car, reported missing from Belfast, was found safe and well.
- All four men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Garda stations in the Dublin Region.
- Investigation
- Garda press release on the arrests and firearm recovery is dated 22 March 2024.
- The Garda update on release is dated 23 March 2024 in its text but is indexed as 21 March 2024.
- The four men have been released without charge.
- A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Gardaí continue to liaise with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and investigations are ongoing.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe arrests were made in connection with a reported kidnap in Belfast. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe car was intercepted on the M50 at Junction 4 Ballymun shortly before 10pm. (garda.ie)
- whereThe car was intercepted on the M50 at Junction 4 Ballymun. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe Garda operation was carried out in Dublin on the night of Thursday 21 March 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe car was intercepted shortly before 10pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeGardaí acted on information from the Police Service of Northern Ireland about a reported kidnap in Belfast. (garda.ie)
- weaponA firearm was recovered from the vehicle and is subject to technical and ballistic examination. (garda.ie)
- weaponA firearm was recovered from the car and is subject to technical and ballistic examination. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe four men were released without charge. (garda.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí continue to liaise with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing and no additional information is available at this time. (garda.ie)
- investigationA Garda operation was instigated in Dublin following information from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí continue to liaise with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and investigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe four men were arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherFour adult males were arrested at the scene. (garda.ie)
- otherA fifth adult male occupant of the car, reported missing from Belfast, was found safe and well. (garda.ie)
- otherAll four men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Garda stations in the Dublin Region. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherFour adult men, occupants of the car, were arrested at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA fifth adult male occupant, reported missing from Belfast, was found safe and well. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Mar2024Four arrested and gun seized on Dublin's M50 after kidnap reported in Belfast
First report of the M50 arrests. It names the Belfast kidnap report and the Police Service of Northern Ireland information, and says a fifth occupant reported missing from Belfast was found safe and well. No existing case matches.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malevictim, male - 21 Mar2024Firearm Recovered and Arrests in North Dublin - Thursday, March 21st, 2024
Official Garda press release, issued 22 March 2024, confirming the four arrests, the firearm recovery and the detention locations. It also states that a fifth occupant reported missing from Belfast was found safe and well.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 21 Mar2024Update - Firearm Recovered and Arrests in North Dublin - Thursday, March 21st, 2024
Gardaí state the four men were released without charge and a file will go to the DPP. They continue to liaise with PSNI and investigations are ongoing.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male