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. 1268Criminal damage (hoax) · Co. Donegal · 20 Jul 2025

Gardaí seek three youths over ketchup body hoax in Milford, Co Donegal

Three young men placed a body-shaped object made of used bags stuffed with ketchup and dressed in dark clothing on the R245 at The Pans, Cranford, Milford, Co Donegal, at around 12:30am on Sunday 20 July 2025, to frighten a motorist. The driver and passenger were left shaken and the car was damaged in the collision. Gardaí are seeking the three young men, a white car believed to have left in the direction of Carrigart, and dash-cam and CCTV footage from between midnight and 1am. No arrests or charges have been made as of 22 July 2025.

  1. Reported22 Jul
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three young men placed a body-shaped object made of used bags stuffed with ketchup and dressed in dark clothing on the road to frighten a motorist.
  • The driver and passenger were left shaken and damage was caused to the car as a result of the collision.
Where
The incident occurred on the R245 at The Pans, Cranford, in the village of Milford, Co Donegal.
When
The incident occurred at around 12:30am on Sunday 20 July 2025.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are seeking a white car with three young males on board that was parked nearby and is believed to have left in the direction of Carrigart.
  • Gardaí are seeking dash-cam footage from between midnight and 1am on 20 July 2025 and all available CCTV is being sought and examined.
Other details
No arrests or charges have been made as of 22 July 2025.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree young men placed used bags stuffed with ketchup that resembled a body to frighten a motorist (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe body-shaped object was dressed in dark clothing stuffed with bags and covered in ketchup (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe driver and passenger were left shaken following the incident (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDamage was caused to the car as a result of the collision (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred on the R245 at The Pans, Cranford, in the village of Milford (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at around 12:30am on Sunday 20 July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are seeking a white car with three young males on board parked up nearby (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe car is believed to have left in the direction of Carrigart (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are seeking dash-cam footage from between midnight and 1am on that date (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAll available CCTV is being sought and examined (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai hunt youths who set up elaborate hoax in cruel roadside stunt

    First report of the incident; Gardaí following a definite line of enquiry and appealing for dash-cam and CCTV footage.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malevictim