Friday 30 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. 16688Burglary and criminal damage · Co. Limerick · 8 Jul 2024

Man arrested after car and house damaged with a digger in Abbeyfeale

On the evening of 8 July 2024, a man in his 30s is understood to have damaged a car and an unoccupied house with a digger at Rylane, Abbeyfeale, on the Limerick/Kerry border. Gardaí called just before 8pm say he threatened them with a machete and fled into a nearby forest. After a search involving the Armed Support Unit, a garda helicopter and the Garda Dog Unit, he was tasered and arrested. In the 9 July 2024 report, gardaí said he was being detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, and GSOC received a referral about the taser and bean bag round discharge. No charge or court appearance has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested9 Jul
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man in his 30s is understood to have damaged a car and an unoccupied house in the area with a digger.
Where
Gardaí were called to a house at Rylane, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, though GSOC's statement places the discharge in Rylane, Duagh, Listowel, Co Kerry.
When
Gardaí were called just before 8pm on 8 July 2024, after reports of burglary and criminal damage.
Cause
Gardaí were contacted about an incident involving burglary and criminal damage.
Weapon
The man is reported to have threatened gardaí with a machete when they confronted him.
Other details
The man fled to a nearby forest after being confronted by gardaí and reportedly refused to comply with their directions.
Investigation
  • The Armed Support Unit, a garda helicopter and the Garda Dog Unit attended, and a cordon was set up and a search carried out in the forest.
  • The man was arrested after he was tasered by gardaí, and gardaí have preserved a number of scenes for technical examination.
  • GSOC received a referral about the taser and bean bag round discharge.
Sentence
As of 9 July 2024, gardaí said the man was being detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man damaged a car and an unoccupied house in the area with a digger. (rte.ie)
  • whereGardaí were called to a house at Rylane, Abbeyfeale. (rte.ie)
  • whenGardaí were called just before 8pm the previous night. (rte.ie)
  • weaponThe man threatened gardaí with a machete when they confronted him. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe Armed Support Unit, a garda helicopter and the Garda Dog Unit attended, and a search was conducted in a forest. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested after he was tasered. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe man is being detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have preserved a number of scenes for technical examination. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe man fled the scene after being confronted by gardaí. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jul2024
    Arrestedrte.ie, first report
    Man arrested after car and house damaged with a digger

    First report of the incident. It adds that the man was arrested after being tasered, that he was detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, and that GSOC received a referral about the taser and bean bag round discharge. GSOC's statement places the discharge in Rylane, Duagh, Listowel, Co Kerry, while the article places the house in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick.

    suspect, 30s, male