Thursday 29 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. 11252Drug possession · Co. Offaly

Gardaí use pepper spray on man in Shannonbridge, Offaly

On a recent weekend, which the article does not date exactly, two gardaí on mobile patrol on Main Street, Shannonbridge, County Offaly, approached a man in his 20s sitting in a parked vehicle. A Garda spokesperson said gardaí wished to search him under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and when he attempted to flee, pepper spray was deployed and he was apprehended; a small quantity of cocaine was reportedly found on him for his own personal use. The case record lists the offence as drug possession, but the articles report no charge, court appearance or sentence. The latest development is the report published on 1 February 2026, which the tracker dates as 30 January 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested30 Jan
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two gardaí approached a man sitting in a parked vehicle.
  • The man, who was in his 20s, attempted to flee.
  • A Garda spokesperson said a small quantity of cocaine was found on the man for his own personal use.
Where
The incident took place on Main Street, Shannonbridge, County Offaly.
When
The incident happened during a recent weekend, and the article gives no exact date.
Investigation
Gardaí wished to search the man under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Weapon
Gardaí deployed pepper spray.
Other details
  • The man was apprehended after pepper spray was deployed.
  • The article text gives a publication date of 1 February 2026, while the tracker dates it 30 January 2026.
Charges
The case record lists the offence as drug possession, but no charge is reported in the articles.
In court
No court proceedings are reported.
Sentence
No sentence is reported.
6 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí saw a man sitting in a parked vehicle and approached him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man, who was in his 20s, attempted to flee. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA small quantity of cocaine was found on the man for his own personal use. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí were on mobile patrol on Main Street, Shannonbridge. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí wished to search the man under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPepper spray was deployed and the man was apprehended. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jan2026
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Gardai used pepper spray on man in Shannonbridge

    Initial report of the Shannonbridge incident; the article gives no exact date beyond 'a recent weekend'.

    suspect, 20s, male