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. 12131Firearms possession, drug possession, theft, assault and aggravated burglary · Co. Limerick

Limerick man jailed for possession of loaded submachine gun at his home

William Woodland, 31, of Shanabooley Road, Ballynanty, was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Court to 13 years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for possessing a loaded submachine gun and other offences. The sentence also covers earlier stolen property, drug, assault and aggravated burglary offences.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced10 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWoodland was found in possession of a loaded submachine gun at his family home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatCannabis worth €3,346.46 and cocaine worth €2,583.98 were seized. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatWoodland initially said the firearm was his and that he had bought it for €5,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatWoodland later said he was minding the gun for an unnamed person and had been paid €1,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatWoodland admitted posting images and videos of himself holding the gun on Snapchat. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatItems stolen in two burglaries in Adare and Rathkeale were found in the car. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatWoodland ran after his ex-partner, pinned her to the ground and tried to steal her phone. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereWoodland is from Shanabooley Road and is aged 31. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe car was parked in Ardnacrusha, County Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe sentencing hearing took place on a Monday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenWoodland was arrested in 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenStolen property was found in a parked car on May 6, 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe first 2023 assault took place at Cliona Park, Moyross, on June 13, 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe second 2023 attack took place on September 18, 2023, at the victim's family home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe gear bag contained a Makarov calibre Rak submachine-gun with a magazine inserted. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThere were 15 bullets in the magazine. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe victim gave Woodland her phone when she realised he had a knife. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA search warrant was executed based on information that Woodland had cocaine at his home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtWoodland pleaded guilty to three separate offences in addition to the firearm offence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe 2021 offence breached a partly suspended sentence imposed in 2018 for a firearms offence. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Nov2025
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    'Sadistic' Limerick man jailed for possession of loaded submachine gun at his home

    Sentencing report for William Woodland covering the 2024 firearm and drugs seizure at his family home, a 2021 stolen-property offence, and two 2023 assaults on his ex-partner. Details the sentences and forfeiture of the gun and cash.

    convicted, William Woodland, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Woodlandvictim, female