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. 8895Attempted terrorist activity (attempt to damage by fire a mosque, aggravated by hatred) · Co. Galway · 4 Nov 2025

Lithuanian man pleads guilty to terrorist plot against Galway mosque

Karolis Peckauskas, a 39-year-old Lithuanian national, is alleged to have plotted to attack Maryam Mosque on Monivea Road, Galway, between 4 and 5 November 2025, an offence aggravated by hatred. Co-accused Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock pleaded guilty to the same offence on 8 June, and Charles Flynn remains charged, with his case due for mention on 20 July. On 29 June 2026, Peckauskas pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to attempting to engage in terrorist activity, and his explosives charge is stayed pending a High Court judgment on his judicial review. Peckauskas, Gorman and Pollock are due back before the court for sentence hearing on 5 October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Jun
  5. Convicted29 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Karolis Peckauskas, a 39-year-old Lithuanian national, pleaded guilty to engaging in a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque.
Where
The intended target was Maryam Mosque on Monivea Road, Galway.
When
The offence is alleged to have taken place between 4 and 5 November 2025.
Cause
The alleged offence was aggravated by hatred.
Charges
  • Peckauskas pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity under sections 6(1)(a)(ii) and 7(1) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, the attempt being to damage the mosque by fire.
  • He is charged under Section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 in relation to those weapons.
  • He is further charged with possessing an explosive substance, namely four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide, at O'Moore Place on the same date.
Weapon
He is accused of having two hatchets, a knuckle duster and a hunting knife in a silver BMW car at O'Moore Place, Portlaoise, on 4 November 2025.
In court
  • Co-accused Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock pleaded guilty to the same offence on 8 June.
  • Peckauskas's guilty plea was entered at the non-jury Special Criminal Court on 29 June 2026.
  • Co-accused Charles Flynn remains charged with the same offence, with his case due for mention on 20 July.
  • Peckauskas's prosecution on the explosives charge is stayed pending a High Court judgment on his judicial review.
Other details
In his judicial review, Peckauskas claims he cannot get a fair trial on the explosives charge because of the wording of the Explosives Act.
Sentence
Peckauskas, Gorman and Pollock are due back before the court for a sentence hearing on 5 October.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Lithuanian national has pleaded guilty to engaging in a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatPeckauskas pleaded guilty to engaging in a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe intended target was Maryam Mosque on Monivea Road, Galway. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe target was Maryam Mosque on Monivea Road, Galway. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe offence is alleged to have taken place between 4 and 5 November 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeThe alleged offence was aggravated by hatred. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponPeckauskas is also accused of having two hatchets, a knuckle duster and a hunting knife in a silver BMW car in O'Moore Place, Portlaoise, on 4 November 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargePeckauskas pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in a terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeCharles Flynn remains charged with the same offence, with his case due for mention on 20 July. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargePeckauskas is further charged with possession of an explosive substance at O'Moore Place on the same date. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity under sections 6(1)(a)(ii) and 7(1) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThe offence was an attempt to damage the mosque by fire and was aggravated by hatred. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe is also charged with having two hatchets, a knuckle duster and a hunting knife in a silver BMW car at O'Moore Place, Portlaoise, on 4 November 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged under Section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 in relation to the weapons. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with possessing an explosive substance, namely four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide, at O'Moore Place on the same date. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe plea was entered at the non-jury Special Criminal Court on Monday 29 June 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtCo-accused Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock both pleaded guilty to the same offence on 8 June. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtPeckauskas's prosecution on the explosives charge is stayed pending a High Court judgment on his judicial review. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe guilty plea was entered at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtHis prosecution on the explosives charge is stayed until the High Court rules on his judicial review challenge. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtCo-accused Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock both pleaded guilty to the same offence on June 8. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtCo-accused Charles Flynn remains charged with the same offence, with his case due for mention on July 20. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentencePeckauskas, Gorman and Pollock are due back before the court on 5 October for a sentence hearing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentencePeckauskas and his co-accused are due back before the court on October 5 for a sentence hearing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherPeckauskas claims in judicial review proceedings that he cannot get a fair trial on the explosives charge because of the wording of the Explosives Act. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jun2026
    In courtdundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Lithuanian man with Louth address pleads guilty to terrorist plot

    Reports Peckauskas's guilty plea at the Special Criminal Court and the charges against him and his co-accused, including an explosives charge that is stayed pending a High Court challenge, and sets the sentence hearing for October 5.

    accused, Karolis Peckauskas, 39, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishKarolis Peckauskasaccused, Darren Gorman, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Gormanaccused, Garrett Pollock, 35, named, irish (judged from name)Garrett Pollockaccused, Charles Flynn, 35, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Flynn
  2. 29 Jun2026
    Convictedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Another man pleads guilty in mosque terrorism plot

    Reports the guilty plea of Karolis Peckauskas at the Special Criminal Court on 29 June 2026, the earlier guilty pleas of co-accused Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock on 8 June, the status of Charles Flynn, the weapons and explosives charges, and the sentence hearing set for 5 October.

    convicted, Karolis Peckauskas, 39, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishKarolis Peckauskasconvicted, Darren Gorman, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Gormanconvicted, Garrett Pollock, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Garrett Pollockaccused, Charles Flynn, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Flynn