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. 9168Armed robbery · Co. Offaly · 15 Nov 2021

Limerick man sentenced over armed robbery at Ferbane Centra

On 15 November 2021, three masked men armed with a screwdriver, knife, garden shears and a meat cleaver robbed O'Callaghan's Centra on Main Street, Ferbane, Co. Offaly, taking a cash box of €2,348 and locking two staff members in the strong room. Barney Casey, a 25-year-old man from Limerick, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the robbery; he was the driver, and the prosecution accepted he did not enter the store. Co-accused James Keenan and Martin Keenan were also sentenced to prison terms with part suspended. At Tullamore Circuit Court, the latest development reported on 9 June 2026, Casey was sentenced to five years with one year suspended, backdated to 20 October 2025, while one report describes the custodial element as four years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced9 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Barney Casey, a 25-year-old man from Limerick, was sentenced for his part in the robbery of a supermarket in Ferbane.
  • Three men wearing hooded anoraks, balaclavas and gloves entered the store.
  • Two staff members were forced into the strong room and locked in.
  • A cash box containing €2,348 was taken.
  • Casey sourced a black Audi S4 Quattro estate car in the London area on 10 November, and the prosecution accepted that he was the driver and did not enter the store.
Where
The robbery targeted O'Callaghan's Centra on Main Street, Ferbane, Co. Offaly.
When
The robbery took place on 15 November 2021, when the getaway car was driven to Ferbane in the early hours.
Weapon
The men were armed with a screwdriver, knife, garden shears and a meat cleaver.
Other details
One victim said she had been threatened that she would be brought away and killed.
Investigation
  • Gardaí pursued the Audi for 33km, and Casey's DNA was found on its rear door.
  • Three people were arrested, including Casey, and one person evaded capture.
In court
Casey pleaded guilty to robbing the Centra, and the judge described the robbery as extremely violent and extremely traumatic for the victims.
Sentence
  • Casey was sentenced to five years in prison with one year suspended, backdated to 20 October 2025, although one report gives the sentence as four years in jail.
  • James Keenan was sentenced to six years in prison with one year suspended, and Martin Keenan received five years with 18 months suspended.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBarney Casey, a 25-year-old man from Limerick, was sentenced for his part in the robbery of a supermarket in Ferbane. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatCasey sourced a black Audi S4 Quattro estate car in the London area on 10 November. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThree men wearing hooded anoraks, balaclavas and gloves entered the store. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatTwo staff members were forced into the strong room and then locked in. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA cash box containing €2,348 was taken. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatCasey was the driver and did not enter the store himself, the prosecution accepted. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe robbery was of O'Callaghan's Centra on Main Street, Ferbane. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe Audi was driven to Ferbane in the early hours of 15 November 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe men were armed with a screwdriver, knife, garden shears and meat cleaver. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí pursued the Audi for 33km. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationCasey's DNA was found on the rear door of the Audi. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThree people were arrested, including Casey, and one evaded capture. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtCasey pleaded guilty to robbing the Centra. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the robbery was extremely violent and extremely traumatic for the victims. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceCasey was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year suspended. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe prison sentence was backdated to 20 October 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJames Keenan was sentenced to six years in prison with one year suspended. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMartin Keenan received a five-year sentence with 18 months suspended. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherOne victim said she had been threatened that she would be brought away and killed. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jun2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Women locked in room during 'horrific' Offaly supermarket armed robbery

    Reports the sentencing of Barney Casey and details of the robbery, the getaway, the arrests, the victims' impact statements and the sentences of two co-accused.

    convicted, Barney Casey, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barney Caseyconvicted, James Keenan, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Keenanconvicted, Martin Keenan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keenanvictim, Audrey White, female, irish (judged from name)Audrey Whitevictim, Denise Hill, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Hill