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.

Case No. 6400Assault with machetes · Co. Roscommon

Gang with machetes attacks youth boxing tournament in Castlerea, Co Roscommon

On Friday 1 March 2024 at about 9.45pm, several armed men entered Castlerea Boxing Club at Demesne, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, during the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships. A man in his 40s was struck by a bladed object, suffered facial injuries and was taken to Galway University Hospital with serious injuries. Gardaí set up an incident room at Castlerea Garda Station and appealed for witnesses and for information about a white or silver Audi A4 seen in the area that evening. No arrests or charges have been reported, and on 4 March 2024 gardaí said they were closing in on the attackers and investigations were ongoing.

  1. Reported1 Mar
    3 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man in his 40s was assaulted and suffered facial injuries after being struck by a bladed object.
  • Several armed men entered a youth boxing tournament during the quarter-finals of the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships.
Where
The assault took place at Castlerea Boxing Club, Demesne, Castlerea, Co Roscommon; one report says it was outside the club, while others say the men entered the venue.
When
The incident happened on Friday 1 March 2024 at approximately 9.45pm.
Weapon
Some of the men were armed with machetes, and at least three wielded sharp instruments.
Cause
The incident is believed to stem from an ongoing feud between two families, and sources say the gang targeted the event to settle a dispute with a spectator.
Other details
  • The men are believed to have been looking for another male at the venue, and the injured man is believed to be a relative of a competitor.
  • The man was treated at the scene and taken to Galway University Hospital with serious injuries; one report describes them as serious but non-life-threatening.
  • Violence broke out, the men fled, and part of the attack was captured on a live-streamed broadcast while several children in the hall were left badly shaken.
  • At least one suspected attacker is known to gardaí, and sources say the gang may have travelled from Co Clare.
  • The remaining two days of the tournament have been suspended and will be rescheduled.
Investigation
  • An incident room has been set up at Castlerea Garda Station, and gardaí are appealing to the public for information.
  • Gardaí are appealing for anyone who saw a white or silver Audi A4 in the Castlerea and Ballintubber areas between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on 1 March 2024, and for road users with camera or dash cam footage to come forward.
  • On 4 March 2024 gardaí said they were closing in on the attackers, and investigations are ongoing.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA male aged in his 40s was assaulted. (garda.ie)
  • whatSeveral men entered the boxing club during the quarter-finals of the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA man in his 40s was assaulted and suffered facial injuries after being struck by a bladed object. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatArmed men brandished machetes during a violent attack at a youth boxing tournament. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe assault occurred at a premises at Demesne, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Castlerea Boxing Club, at Demesne, Castlerea. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack took place at a club in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, which was hosting the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assault occurred on the evening of Friday 1 March 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at approximately 9.45pm. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe men entered the club at around 9.45pm on Friday night. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe gang stormed the venue at 9.45pm, captured on live-streamed footage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe incident is believed to stem from an ongoing feud between two families. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeSources say the gang targeted the event to settle a dispute with a spectator. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponA number of the men were armed with machetes, and at least three of them wielded sharp instruments. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAn incident room has been established at Castlerea Garda Station. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to the public for information. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone who saw a White / Silver Audi A4 car in the Castlerea and Ballintubber areas between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on 1 March 2024. (garda.ie)
  • investigationRoad users in the area who may have camera footage, including dash cam, are asked to make it available. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a white or silver Audi A4 car. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí say they are closing in on the attackers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for information about a white/silver Audi A4 seen in the Castlerea and Ballintubber areas between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on the Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe injured man received medical treatment at the scene. (garda.ie)
  • otherHe was later taken to Galway University Hospital for treatment for serious injuries. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe injured man was treated at the scene and later taken to Galway University Hospital with serious injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe injured man is believed to be a relative of one of the competitors at the event. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe men are believed to have been looking for another male at the venue. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherViolence broke out and the men fled the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt least one of the suspected attackers is known to gardaí for involvement in criminality. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe tournament was live streamed and part of the attack was caught on camera. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSeveral children were in the hall at the time, some of whom were left badly shaken. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo further days of the tournament have been suspended and will be rescheduled. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe armed men burst into the building as terrified fans fled. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA man in his 40s is in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSources say the gang may have travelled from Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Mar2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardaí close in on gang of thugs who attacked U-14s boxing event with machetes

    First report of the incident. Describes the machete attack at the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships, the injury to a man in his 40s, the reported dispute motive and the garda appeal for a white/silver Audi A4.

    victim, 40s, malesuspect
  2. 2 Mar2024
    Reportedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man hospitalised after incident involving masked men with machetes at youth boxing competition in Co Roscommon

    First report of the incident. The article adds details of the weapons, the feud the incident is believed to stem from, the live-streamed footage, the incident room and the suspension of the tournament's remaining days.

    victim, 40s, malesuspect, male
  3. 1 Mar2024
    Reportedgarda.ie, first report
    Witness Appeal - Serious Assault, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, 1st March 2024.

    Official garda.ie appeal for information. Adds the time of the incident (approximately 9.45pm), the medical treatment given, the incident room at Castlerea Garda Station, and a sighting appeal for a White / Silver Audi A4 between 8.30pm and 11.30pm.

    victim, 40s, male