Wednesday 28 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. 5098Possession of gun components and ammunition · Co. Louth · 19 Jul 2024

Man charged over firearms seizure in Ardee granted €115k bail at High Court

Conor O'Brien, 27, was granted €115,000 bail with strict conditions at the High Court in Cloverhill after being charged with possession of gun components and ammunition following a seizure of parts for 18 semi-automatic firearms and 904 rounds of ammunition at a shed in Ardee, Co Louth. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 33, from Co Down, has not sought bail.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBoth men face 23 charges of possession of gun components and ammunition. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA suitcase containing parts for six semi-automatic assault rifles and 12 semi-automatic pistols was found. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSerial numbers showing the true origin of the firearms had been removed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • what904 rounds of ammunition and two Airsoft rifles were also found. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA silencer was among the weaponry found. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe firearms and ammunition were found at a shed on John Street, Blackstick, Ardee. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe two men were arrested on July 19 by Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau officers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí received confidential information about the importation of firearms shipped to Ireland to be sold to criminal groups. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe property was rented by O'Brien and the defendants failed to let gardaí in, with an attempt to conceal two mobile phones. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe bail application was heard at the High Court in Cloverhill before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men were remanded in custody following a District Court appearance on July 24. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceBail was set at €40,000 in O'Brien's own bond with a €75,000 independent surety. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceConditions include a 9pm–9am curfew, daily sign-on at his local garda station, not associating with his co-accused, not leaving the state, and not applying to replace his travel documents. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien was alleged to have had a central role in the case. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien has dual Irish-US citizenship and had travelled to the UK, raising flight risk concerns. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien lived in the United States until he was five and regularly visited America two or three times a year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien set up an LED lighting business after leaving a job with Intel. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien had no prior criminal convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Brien's travel documents had been seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA letter from the American embassy stated Irish authorities would be notified if O'Brien applied to travel to the US. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Sep2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man charged after guns and ammo haul granted €115k bail with strict conditions

    Bail application at the High Court in Cloverhill; O'Brien granted €115,000 bail with curfew, daily sign-on, and travel restrictions; McCourt has not sought bail.

    accused, Conor O'Brien, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor O'Brienaccused, Mark McCourt, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mark McCourt