Saturday 31 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. 20300Unlawful possession of a firearm · Co. Dublin · 16 Jul 2023

Man charged over firearm seizure in Mulhuddart, Dublin

Shortly before midnight on 16 July 2023, two men were arrested and a loaded Makarov semi-automatic firearm was seized after a Gardaí containment operation on Wellview Road in Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown, Dublin, when a vehicle travelling at high speed failed to stop and a dark coloured bag was thrown from the car. Karl Cahill, a 34-year-old man of Wellview Grove in Dublin, was charged with unlawful possession of the weapon, while a second man in his 30s was released without charge. Cahill appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on 18 July 2023, made no reply to the charge, and was remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is to appear again at Cloverhill District Court the following week.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested17 Jul
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two men were arrested and a loaded Makarov semi-automatic firearm was seized following a Gardaí containment operation.
Where
The operation took place on Wellview Road in Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown, Dublin.
When
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on 16 July 2023.
Cause
A vehicle was travelling at high speed and failed to stop after being directed to by Gardaí from the Blanchardstown Drug Unit.
Weapon
A loaded Makarov semi-automatic weapon was found after a dark coloured bag was thrown from the vehicle and the area was searched.
Investigation
A managed containment operation was launched and a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Charges
Karl Cahill, a 34-year-old man of Wellview Grove in Dublin, was charged with unlawful possession of a Makarov semi-automatic weapon.
In court
  • Cahill appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on 18 July 2023, made no reply to the charge, and was remanded in custody with consent to bail.
  • He is to appear again at Cloverhill District Court the following week.
Other details
A second man, described as in his 30s (one report says mid 20s), was released without charge.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo people were arrested (extra.ie)
  • whatA firearm was seized (extra.ie)
  • whatThe arrests followed a Gardaí chase (extra.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested and a loaded firearm was seized (rte.ie)
  • whatA vehicle was travelling at high speed and failed to stop after being directed to (rte.ie)
  • whatA dark coloured bag was thrown from the vehicle during the operation (rte.ie)
  • whatThe two men were aged in their mid 20s and early 30s (rte.ie)
  • whatA loaded firearm was found after a search of the area (rte.ie)
  • whatKarl Cahill is a 34-year-old man (rte.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested just before midnight (rte.ie)
  • whatA bag was thrown from the car and recovered (rte.ie)
  • whatA gun was found following a search of the bag (rte.ie)
  • whatA second man in his 30s was released without charge (rte.ie)
  • whereThe operation took place in Blanchardstown, Dublin (rte.ie)
  • whereGardaí were on patrol on Wellview Road (rte.ie)
  • whereKarl Cahill lives at Wellview Grove in Dublin (rte.ie)
  • whereGardaí from the Blanchardstown Drug Unit stopped a car on Wellview Road in Mulhuddart (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred shortly before midnight on 16 July 2023 (rte.ie)
  • investigationA containment operation was launched (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe two men remain in custody at a garda station in west Dublin (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe stop was part of a managed containment operation (rte.ie)
  • investigationA file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (rte.ie)
  • chargeKarl Cahill was charged with unlawful possession of a Makarov semi-automatic weapon (rte.ie)
  • courtKarl Cahill appeared at Blanchardstown District Court (rte.ie)
  • courtGarda Gavin Campbell gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution (rte.ie)
  • courtThe accused made no reply to the charge (rte.ie)
  • courtKarl Cahill was remanded in custody with consent to bail (rte.ie)
  • courtHe is to appear again at Cloverhill District Court the following week (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jul2023
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Man charged over firearm seizure in Dublin

    First report of the charge and court appearance. Details the arrest, the weapon seized, the remand, and the release without charge of a second man.

    accused, Karl Cahill, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl Cahillsuspect, 30s, male
  2. 17 Jul2023
    Arrestedrte.ie, follow-up
    Two arrested and loaded firearm seized in Dublin

    Follow-up providing more detail on the arrest: the vehicle was travelling at high speed and failed to stop, a dark coloured bag was thrown from the vehicle during the containment operation, and the two men are described as aged in their mid 20s and early 30s.

    suspect, mid 20s, malesuspect, early 30s, male
  3. 17 Jul2023
    Arrestedextra.ie, follow-up
    Two Arrested And Firearm Seized After Gardai Chase In Dublin

    Brief headline-only report confirming two arrests and a firearm seizure following a Gardaí chase in Dublin; no additional details beyond the title.

    suspectsuspect