Ireland Limerick man charged over live firearm found after scrambler chase
A 27-year-old man, Craig O'Donnell, of O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick, was arrested in Limerick City after gardaí reportedly seized a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Reports differ on the date and place: one gives Thursday 27 June 2024 at Bishop Street, while another gives the early hours of Friday 28 June 2024 in King's Island. He was charged with possession of a firearm and 9mm ammunition and made no reply to the charges at a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Sunday 30 June 2024. Bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison to appear by video-link next Tuesday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested28 Jun
- Charged30 Jun
- In court30 Jun
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Craig O'Donnell, aged 27, of O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick, was arrested and charged over a firearm seized by gardaí in Limerick City.
- Weapon
- Gardaí seized a converted 9mm semi-automatic pistol that was reported as loaded, and the Armed Support Unit confirmed it was live.
- Gardaí alleged there was a live round in the chamber and seven more rounds in the magazine.
- Gardaí allege the firearm was concealed in a bag that the man tried to discard before he was arrested a short distance away.
- Where
- One report places the incident on Bishop Street, Limerick City, while another places the arrest in the King's Island area near Island Road.
- When
- One report dates the incident to Thursday 27 June 2024, while another dates the arrest to the early hours of Friday 28 June 2024.
- Cause
- Gardaí reportedly saw a man on an electric scrambler or electric bicycle wearing a balaclava and a surgical glove over another glove, and he allegedly abandoned the bike and fled on foot.
- Investigation
- The firearm was sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for further analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
- Charges
- He is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and one count of possession of 9mm calibre ammunition, and he made no reply to the charges.
- In court
- He appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Sunday 30 June 2024.
- Gardaí objected to bail citing the nature, degree and seriousness of the evidence, and the judge refused bail.
- Sentence
- He was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison to appear by video-link before Limerick District Court next Tuesday for the DPP's directions.
- Other details
- He was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at a Limerick city garda station.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAn electric bicycle rider was arrested after gardaí seized a loaded firearm. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatUniformed gardaí encountered a male on an electric bicycle on Island Road during a routine patrol. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatA man was arrested in connection with a firearm seizure. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA man was charged with carrying a loaded semi-automatic gun and ammunition while riding an electric scrambler bike through Limerick city. (rte.ie)
- whereThe arrest took place in the King's Island area of Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe arrest took place on Bishop Street, Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place in the early hours of Friday 28 June 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested in the early hours of Friday. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Thursday 27 June 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponA loaded firearm was seized from a bag the rider had been concealing. (limerickpost.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was a loaded semi-automatic gun. (rte.ie)
- weaponThe accused allegedly tried to discard a carrier bag containing what was believed to be a firearm. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponThe firearm was a converted 9mm semi-automatic pistol. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponGardaí alleged there was a live round in the chamber and seven more rounds in the magazine. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe firearm was to be sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for analysis and investigations are ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe seized firearm was sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for further analysis. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing, according to a garda spokesperson. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí observed a male on an electric scrambler wearing a balaclava. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationAfter a short foot chase, gardaí arrested him. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe Armed Support Unit confirmed the firearm was live. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe man has been charged by gardaí. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and one count of possession of 9mm calibre ammunition. (rte.ie)
- chargeCraig O’Donnell is charged with possessing a converted 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 9mm ammunition. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe accused is due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Sunday morning. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtHe was refused bail at a special sitting of Limerick District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtHe made no reply to the charges. (rte.ie)
- courtThe garda objected to bail citing the nature, degree and seriousness of the evidence. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said the evidence was very serious and refused bail. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded him in custody to Limerick Prison to appear by video-link next Tuesday. (rte.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail at the special court sitting. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge refused bail based on the evidence, the seriousness of the charges and the need to prevent further serious offences. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe accused was remanded in custody to appear at Limerick District Court via video-link for DPP’s directions. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe driver abandoned the electric bicycle and fled on foot when he saw gardaí. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe man was described by gardaí as being in his 20s and was arrested at the scene. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherHe was held in a Limerick City Garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 in a Limerick city garda station. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherGardaí alleged the accused wore a surgical glove over another glove. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2024Limerick man charged over ‘live’ gun was detected on scrambler by gardai
Reports the charges, the arrest on Bishop Street, the alleged live round, and the refusal of bail at a special court sitting. No existing case covers this firearm incident.
accused, Craig O'Donnell, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig O'Donnell - 30 Jun2024Man appears in Limerick court over firearm offence
Reports the court appearance on 30 June 2024, the charges, the refusal of bail and the remand in custody to Limerick Prison. It does not give the incident date, arrest details or the discarded bag mentioned in the existing case.
accused, Craig O'Donnell, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig O'Donnell - 30 Jun2024Man charged over firearm seizure in Limerick
Adds that the man, aged in his 20s, was charged and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, with a special court sitting on Sunday. It also says the seized firearm was sent for ballistic analysis. The article names no one. It is matched to the existing case on the same firearm seizure, but it gives the arrest as early Friday, while that case gives Thursday 27 June.
accused, 20s, male - 28 Jun2024E-biker arrested after seizure of loaded firearm in Limerick City
Adds that the arrest followed a chase on an electric bicycle on Island Road, King's Island, that the man was in his 20s, and that he was held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The article does not name him. It differs from the existing case on vehicle (scrambler) and location (Bishop Street), so the match is uncertain.
suspect, 20s, male