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. 8928Possession of an offensive weapon and possession of drugs · Co. Longford · 10 Aug 2025

Longford man jailed after axe found in sports bag

Just after midnight on 10 August 2025, gardaí on patrol on the Connacht Road in Longford town found an axe hanging out of a sports bag. Aaron Hartshorn, a 20-year-old man from Colehill, Longford, was arrested under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and later pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to possessing an offensive weapon, namely an axe, and possessing drugs. Sources differ on the sentence: the key facts give a 16-month prison term with the final four months suspended, while the Longford Leader reported one year in prison. The latest development is that sentencing was reported on 26 June 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Aaron Hartshorn, a 20-year-old man of Colehill, Longford, was charged over an axe and drugs found in a sports bag.
Where
Gardaí were on patrol on the Connacht Road in Longford town.
When
The offences occurred just after midnight on Sunday, 10 August 2025.
Weapon
The weapon was an axe hanging out of a sports bag.
Investigation
He was arrested under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act after giving no reasonable explanation for the axe.
Other details
  • Drugs valued at €50 were found on him during a search.
  • He was separately detected with cocaine and driving without a licence and insurance on 10 July 2025.
  • He had 27 previous convictions.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, namely an axe, and to possessing drugs.
In court
The case was heard at Longford District Court, where Judge Vincent Deane said he would try to minimise the sentence.
Sentence
The key facts give a 16-month prison term with the final four months suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, while the Longford Leader reported a one-year prison sentence.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereGardaí were on patrol on the Connacht Road in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe axe and drugs offences occurred just after midnight on Sunday, 10 August 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was an axe seen hanging out of a sports bag. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationHe was arrested under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act after giving no reasonable explanation for the axe. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, namely an axe, and possessing drugs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Vincent Deane said he would try to minimise the sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to a 16-month prison term with the final four months suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherDrugs valued at €50 were found on him during a search. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe was separately detected with cocaine and driving without a licence and insurance on July 10, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe had 27 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jun2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    'A tumultuous life' Longford man caught with axe in sports bag is jailed

    Reports the sentencing of Aaron Hartshorn at Longford District Court. It also notes that he was separately detected with cocaine and driving without a licence and insurance on July 10, 2025, and that he had 27 previous convictions.

    convicted, Aaron Hartshorn, 20, male, namedAaron Hartshorn