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. 15285Possession of an offensive weapon · Co. Limerick · 3 Dec 2024

Man charged after armed gardai seize weapon in Limerick city

On Sunday 1 December 2024 at about 4.30pm, a man was allegedly attacked with a hurley and a car was rammed on Lower Main Street in Rathkeale, County Limerick, as shown in a video shared online. A man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 on 3 December, and Robert Quilligan (18), a man, was later charged with violent disorder and production of an article. On 4 December he appeared before Limerick District Court, was granted bail on €500 cash and sign-on conditions, and was remanded to appear at Newcastle West court on 28 January.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested3 Dec
    2 reports
  3. Charged5 Dec
  4. In court5 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man was allegedly attacked with a hurley and a car was rammed in Rathkeale, as shown in a video shared online.
  • The video shows two men attacking a man, one hitting him with a hurley and the other punching him.
When
The incident took place on Sunday 1 December 2024 at about 4.30pm.
Where
  • The incident took place on Lower Main Street in Rathkeale, County Limerick.
  • A separate garda report describes a man in possession of an offensive weapon at Watchhouse Cross, Limerick city, on Tuesday 3 December at about 12pm; the report does not name him and the sources do not link it to the Rathkeale incident.
Weapon
The weapon in the Rathkeale attack was a hurley, and the weapon seized in Limerick city was reported as not a firearm.
Cause
  • Gardaí suspect a link to an ongoing feud between rival groups, but another report says the incident is not connected to a feud between families in Rathkeale.
  • Reports say there was a disagreement between the men in the town shortly before the incident, and how it started is not known.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were alerted to a public order incident in Rathkeale on 1 December, and a man in his 20s was arrested and detained at a Garda station in County Limerick on 3 December; investigations are ongoing.
  • The arrested man is described as in his 20s, while the man later charged is given as 18.
Charges
Robert Quilligan (18), a man, was charged with violent disorder and production of an article at Lower Main Street, Rathkeale, on Sunday 1 December.
In court
  • Quilligan was brought before Limerick District Court on Wednesday 4 December, where Judge Patricia Harney heard he was on bail with €500 in cash to hand into court.
  • Judge Harney remanded him to appear again at Newcastle West court on 28 January; his solicitor said he agreed to sign on at Newcastle West Garda station three days a week and to be of good behaviour.
Other details
The victim walked away after the attack and it is unclear whether he sought medical treatment; no injuries had been reported at the time of the article.
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was attacked with a hurley and a car was rammed in Rathkeale. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA video shows two damaged cars on the road following a collision. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA vehicle was rammed and a male was assaulted. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatOne man beat the victim with a hurley while a second man punched him. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatA man was allegedly attacked with a hurley in a violent incident in Rathkeale. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatA man was reported to be in possession of an offensive weapon. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred on Lower Main Street in Rathkeale. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place on the Lower Main Street area in Rathkeale, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe incident was in Rathkeale, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Lowe Main Street, Rathkeale. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in the Watchhouse Cross area of Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on Sunday afternoon, 1 December 2024, at about 4:30pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Sunday 1 December 2024 at about 4.30pm. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on Sunday 1 December. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Tuesday, 3 December at about 12pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeIt is not known how the incident started, but reports say there was a disagreement between the men in the town shortly before it happened. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí suspect the incident may be linked to an ongoing feud between rival groups. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponOne man was seen hitting another man with a hurley. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponOne of the two men attacking the victim was armed with a hurley. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponThe alleged attack involved a hurley. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was not a firearm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 20s has been arrested and is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in County Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie, limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted to a public order incident in Rathkeale on December 1. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 20s has been arrested and detained at a Garda station in County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationArmed gardaí seized a weapon from a man at a busy junction. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeRobert Quilligan is facing charges of violent disorder and production of an article. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeThe man was arrested and charged following the incident. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtRobert Quilligan was brought before Limerick District Court on Wednesday 4 December. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtRobert Quilligan was on bail and had €500 in bail cash to hand into court. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe man was due to appear in Limerick District Court on 4 December 2024 at 10.30am. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Harney remanded him to appear again in Newcastle West court on January 28. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe incident is not connected to a feud between families in Rathkeale. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe victim walked away after the attack and it is unclear whether he sought medical treatment. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he agreed to sign on at Newcastle West Garda station three days a week and to be of good behaviour. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherNo injuries had been reported at the time of the article. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Dec2024
    Chargedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Armed gardai seize weapon from man in broad daylight in Limerick

    First report of the incident. It gives the location, time, the non-firearm nature of the weapon, the arrest and charge, and the court date.

    accused, male
  2. 5 Dec2024
    In courtlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Man charged in relation to alleged hurley attack in Rathkeale

    Reports the charges against Robert Quilligan, his appearance at Limerick District Court, bail terms and remand to Newcastle West court on January 28. No existing case matched.

    accused, Robert Quilligan, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Quilliganvictim, male
  3. 3 Dec2024
    Arrestedlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí arrest man in connection with ramming and hurley attack in Rathkeale

    Adds the Garda confirmation of the arrest of a man in his 20s, the approximate time and location, the ramming, the feud link and that investigations are ongoing.

    suspect, 20s, malevictim, male
  4. 3 Dec2024
    Arrestedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Man attacked with a hurley and car rammed in Limerick

    Adds that a man in his 20s has been arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Adds that a video shows two men attacking a man with a hurley, that a car was rammed, and that the incident is not connected to a feud between families in Rathkeale.

    victim, malesuspect, 20s, male