Ireland Case No. 4077Terrorism (planned attack) · Co. Galway · 5 Nov 2025
Gardaí must explain release of mosque attack plan suspects, Belfast High Court judge says
A Belfast High Court judge directed Gardaí to explain why two men suspected of playing an integral role in planning an attack on a Galway mosque were released without charge. Connor Pollock, 38, from Co Down, had his bail application adjourned while his brother Garrett Pollock and Lithuanian national Karolis Peckauskas remain remanded in the Republic on terrorism charges.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested20 Dec
- Charged1 Mar
- In court19 Jan
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA fourth man was arrested in Co. Limerick as part of the cross-border terrorism investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA group calling itself the Irish Defence Army was planning to attack the mosque in Galway (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA third man, partner of a former Sinn Féin member, was arrested and his property searched (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe third man was suspected of taking part in an alleged propaganda video seized by Gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe charges relate to a planned attack on a Galway mosque by a group calling itself the Irish Defence Army (IDA). (irishtimes.com)
- whatSearches of the vehicle uncovered a bulletproof vest, six containers of hydrogen peroxide, cable ties, a hunting knife, hatchets and component parts for pipe bombs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Tricolour flag and documents relating to an IDA affirmation and threat to a mosque in Galway were also found. (irishtimes.com)
- whatExaminations of a phone revealed a video showing four people wearing balaclavas and claiming responsibility for the planned attack. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo men in their 30s were arrested in Limerick and Portlaoise, Co. Laois, on 19 March 2026. (garda.ie)
- whereThe alleged plot was uncovered by Gardaí in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, in November (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGarrett Pollock and Karolis Peckauskas were arrested on 5 November 2025 after gardaí stopped a car at Portlaoise, Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrest took place on Tuesday 16 December 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in the midlands (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by the Special Detective Unit (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSuspects were arrested as part of an investigation by police on both sides of the Border into violent far-right extremism. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo other men suspected to be in the recording were arrested but later released pending the outcome of a report to prosecutors in the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThose two suspects were released following questioning by gardaí because they could not be charged with preparatory acts of terrorism under Irish legislation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is led by An Garda Síochána Special Detective Unit. (garda.ie)
- chargeTwo men have already been charged over the alleged plot and have appeared in court (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeConnor Pollock, 38, of Croob Park in Ballynahinch, Co Down, faces counts of withholding information about the preparation of a terrorist act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is also accused of possessing documents or records useful to terrorists, and having a mobile phone for purposes connected to terrorism. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two newly arrested men have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeTwo other males currently before the courts will be further charged in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
- courtA man appeared in court in Co. Down on Thursday and was remanded in custody as part of the same PSNI/Garda investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA High Court judge in Belfast directed Gardaí to provide further reasons for releasing two men suspected of playing an integral role in plans to blow up a mosque. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey are due to appear before Portlaoise District Court at 10.30am on 19 March 2026. (garda.ie)
- otherSinn Féin expelled the third man's partner after the search and arrest operation (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPolice do not believe Connor Pollock was involved in events on the night of the alleged planned attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe investigation is described as cross-border and terrorism-related. (garda.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Mar2026Update (5) Court Appearance – Cross-Border Terrorism-Related Investigation - 5th November 2025
Fifth update in the investigation. Two new men in their 30s arrested in Limerick and Portlaoise and charged; two other males already before the courts to be further charged. All at Portlaoise District Court on 19 March 2026.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 19 Jan2026Gardaí must explain release of mosque attack plan suspects, judge says
Belfast High Court bail hearing for Connor Pollock; judge Ms Justice Smyth directed Gardaí to provide a statement explaining why two suspects were released without charge under Irish legislation.
accused, Connor Pollock, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Connor Pollockaccused, Garrett Pollock, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Garrett Pollockaccused, Karolis Peckauskas, 38, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishKarolis Peckauskasaccused, maleaccused, male - 20 Dec2025Gardaí arrest fourth man over 'mosque terror attack plot'
Reports the arrest and release without charge of a fourth man in his 30s in Limerick on 16 December 2025, details the third man's arrest and Sinn Féin's expulsion of his partner, and notes a man remanded in Co Down court on Thursday as part of the same PSNI/Garda investigation.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, malesuspect, male