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. 7797Possession of an imitation firearm · Co. Tipperary · 21 Jul 2023

Man charged over imitation firearm on train near Templemore, Co Tipperary

On Friday 21 July 2023, at about 6:50pm, gardaí were alerted to reports that a man had been seen with a firearm on the 7pm Dublin to Cork train near Templemore, Co Tipperary. Passengers reportedly saw what appeared to be a pistol, and armed gardaí boarded the train after it was stopped outside Templemore at around 8.30pm. A man in his 20s, whose name is not given, was searched, was found to be carrying what is believed to be an imitation firearm, and was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. He has since been charged in relation to the incident and is due before Nenagh District Court on Monday 24 July 2023 at 10.30am.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested22 Jul
  3. Charged21 Jul
    2 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí were alerted to reports that a male had been seen on a train with a firearm.
Where
The incident took place on a train near Templemore Train Station, Co Tipperary, which was the 7pm Dublin to Cork service.
When
  • Gardaí were alerted at about 6:50pm on Friday 21 July 2023.
  • The train was stopped outside Templemore at around 8.30pm, according to one report.
Cause
The alarm was raised after passengers saw what appeared to be a pistol, and one passenger photographed it before alerting train staff.
Weapon
The item the man was found with is believed to be an imitation firearm, subject to a technical examination.
Investigation
  • Local uniform and plainclothes gardaí attended the scene, assisted by the Regional Armed Support Unit, and armed officers boarded the train.
  • Gardaí searched the man on the train and found the item, and one report says passengers were told there was a technical fault when the train was halted.
  • The man, aged in his 20s, was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Tipperary under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Charges
The man has since been charged in relation to the incident.
In court
The man is due to appear before Nenagh District Court on Monday 24 July 2023 at 10.30am.
Other details
Nobody was injured in the incident.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatReports suggested that a male had been observed on the train with a firearm. (garda.ie)
  • whatArmed gardaí boarded the train to arrest a man spotted holding a pistol. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatGardaí responded to reports that a male had been seen on the train with a firearm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place on a train near Templemore Train Station, Co Tipperary. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe train was stopped outside Templemore in Co Tipperary. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe train was the 7pm service from Dublin to Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on a train near Templemore Train Station in Tipperary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at about 6:50pm on Friday 21 July 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Friday 21 July 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe train was stopped at around 8.30pm. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenGardaí were alerted to the incident at around 6:50pm on 21 July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe alarm was raised after passengers saw what appeared to be a pistol. (corkbeo.ie)
  • weaponThe man was found to be in possession of what is believed to be an imitation firearm, subject to a technical examination. (garda.ie)
  • weaponOfficers believe the gun was an imitation firearm. (corkbeo.ie)
  • weaponThe item found was believed to be an imitation firearm, subject to a technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationLocal uniform and plainclothes gardaí attended the scene, assisted by the Regional Armed Support Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationLocal uniform and plainclothes gardaí first attended the scene, assisted by the Regional Armed Support Unit. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe man was searched and found to be in possession of what is believed to be an imitation firearm, subject to a technical examination. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationLocal uniform and plainclothes gardaí initially attended the scene, assisted by the Regional Armed Support Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí searched the male on the train. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Tipperary under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man has since been charged in relation to the incident. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before Nenagh District Court on Monday 24 July 2023 at 10.30am. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man, aged in his 20s, was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Tipperary under Section 30, Offences Against the State Act 1939. (garda.ie)
  • otherA passenger took a photo of the weapon before alerting train staff. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe man was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Tipperary. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherNobody was injured in the incident. (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jul2023
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man due in court for possession of 'imitation firearm' at Templemore station

    First report of the incident. Adds the charge, the Section 30 detention and the Nenagh District Court appearance date.

    accused, 20s, male
  2. 22 Jul2023
    Arrestedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Armed gardai storm Dublin to Cork train after man spotted with gun onboard

    Reports that armed gardaí boarded the train after passengers raised the alarm about a pistol, and that the man was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. No charge is mentioned in this article.

    suspect, 20s, male
  3. 21 Jul2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - Possession of Firearm at Templemore Train Station. 21st July, 2023.

    Garda press release confirming the arrest at the scene under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, the charge, and the court date at Nenagh District Court on 24 July 2023.

    accused, 20s, male