Gardaí seize 20 pipe bombs in Ardee as part of Drogheda feud investigation
On 7 May 2025, Gardaí seized 20 pipe bombs from an area of land in Ardee, Co Louth, during an intelligence-led operation by the Drogheda Divisional Drugs Unit as part of the investigation into the Drogheda feud. No arrests were made, and the investigation is continuing. Gardaí believe the pipe bombs belonged to the anti-Maguire side in the feud and were controlled by a key player in that faction, who is also suspected of involvement in the September 2014 murder of Benny Whitehouse, 34, in Balbriggan, and is being investigated over the August 2019 murder of Keith Branigan, 29, in Clogherhead. The feud has left four men dead, including Keane Mulready-Woods, 17, and Robbie Lawlor, 36.
- Reported7 May
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized 20 pipe bombs.
- Where
- The pipe bombs were found in an area of land in Ardee, Co Louth.
- When
- The seizure took place on 7 May 2025.
- Investigation
- The seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation by the Drogheda Divisional Drugs Unit investigating the Drogheda feud.
- No arrests were made and the investigation is continuing.
- Other details
- Gardaí believe the pipe bombs belonged to the anti-Maguire side in the feud and were controlled by a key player in that faction.
- The same man is suspected of involvement in the September 2014 murder of Benny Whitehouse, 34, in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin.
- The man is being investigated over the August 2019 murder of Keith Branigan, 29, in Clogherhead, Co Louth.
- The Whitehouse murder was carried out by the Maguire faction, which included the now-dead mobster Cornelius Price.
- The man switched sides and took on the Maguire grouping when the feud erupted.
- Keane Mulready-Woods, 17, was murdered and dismembered in January 2020, and Robbie Lawlor, 36, was shot dead in Belfast a few months later.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized 20 pipe bombs (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe pipe bombs were found in an area of land in Ardee, Co Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation by the Drogheda Divisional Drugs Unit (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationNo arrests were made (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is continuing (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí believe the pipe bombs belonged to the anti-Maguire side in the feud (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe pipe bombs were suspected to be controlled by a key player in the anti-Maguire faction (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe same man is suspected of involvement in two gun killings, one connected to the Drogheda feud (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is suspected of involvement in the September 2014 murder of Benny Whitehouse, 34, in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Whitehouse murder was carried out by the Maguire faction, which included the now dead mobster Cornelius Price (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man switched sides and took on the Maguire grouping when the feud erupted (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is being investigated over the August 2019 murder of Keith Branigan, 29, in Clogherhead, Co Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKeane Mulready-Woods, 17, was murdered and dismembered in January 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherRobbie Lawlor, 36, was shot dead in Belfast a few months later (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 May2025Gardai seize 20 pipe bombs in major blow to crime gang involved in bloody feud
Reports the seizure of 20 pipe bombs in Ardee, Co Louth, during an intelligence-led operation by the Drogheda Divisional Drugs Unit, with no arrests made. Identifies the anti-Maguire faction as the suspected owners and names the key player suspected of controlling them, who is also linked to two gun killings.
suspect, male