Ireland Man charged with assaulting gardaí during pellet gun incident in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford
On Tuesday 20 February 2024, three uniformed gardaí were injured at a residence in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, while executing court orders. Gardaí say a man in his 30s, named in court reports as Darren Dowler, aged 32, discharged what is believed to be a pellet gun at them. The man fled, was located and arrested that day, and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. On Wednesday 21 February 2024 he was charged with three section 3 assaults on members of the force and appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court, where he was remanded in custody with consent to bail. The latest development is that he is due before Longford District Court on Tuesday 27 February 2024, and investigations are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested20 Feb
3 reports - Charged20 Feb
- In court21 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- Where
- The incident happened at a residence in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
- When
- The incident happened on the morning of Tuesday 20 February 2024.
- Cause
- Uniformed gardaí attended the residence to execute a number of court orders and entered the property.
- What happened
- A man in his 30s was present in the house, and court reports name him as Darren Dowler, aged 32, of Edgeworthstown.
- Three gardaí received minor, superficial injuries that did not require immediate medical treatment.
- Weapon
- The man discharged what is believed to be a pellet gun several times at the unarmed uniformed gardaí, shortly after they gained access to the property.
- Investigation
- The man fled the property, and gardaí searched the area with Garda Air Support Unit, Armed Support Unit and helicopter support before finding him.
- Gardaí said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
- Charges
- The man was arrested on 20 February 2024 for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Darren Dowler was charged with three section 3 assaults on members of the force.
- In court
- He appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
- The judge said she would grant bail subject to an independent surety being provided first, and he was remanded in custody with consent to bail to Longford District Court the following Tuesday, 27 February 2024.
- Bail conditions include residing at his Edgeworthstown address, signing on three times a week, a curfew from 10pm to 6am, surrendering his passport and remaining contactable.
- Other details
- All members involved in the incident have been given welfare supports.
44 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA firearm was discharged at gardaí. (garda.ie)
- whatThe man was aged in his 30s. (garda.ie)
- whatThree gardaí received minor injuries that did not need immediate medical treatment. (garda.ie)
- whatThree gardaí were injured when a man shot at them with a pellet gun. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man in his 30s fired the pellet gun at gardaí several times. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gardaí's injuries were superficial and did not immediately need medical treatment. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree gardaí were allegedly injured by shots from a pellet gun. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident happened in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place at a residence in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. (garda.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a residence in Edgeworthstown, Longford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereDarren Dowler lives in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened on 20 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on the morning of Tuesday 20 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Tuesday morning during an attempted search and arrest. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí attended the residence on a Tuesday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on a Tuesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA male believed to have a pellet gun discharged it several times at unarmed gardaí. (garda.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was believed to be a pellet gun. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA man discharged what is believed to be a pellet gun several times at the gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA pellet gun was allegedly discharged shortly after gardaí gained access to the property. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man escaped from the property and gardaí searched the area with air support. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspect fled on foot, and gardaí later found him after reinforcements and an extensive search. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Armed Support Unit and the Garda helicopter were deployed to find the suspect. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man escaped from the property and a search of the area was carried out. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeA man in his 30s has been charged in connection with the incident. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man was arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act 1997. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDarren Dowler was charged with three section 3 assaults on members of the force. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was due to appear before Athlone District Court on Wednesday 21 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtDowler appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court on the Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said she would grant bail, subject to an independent surety being provided first. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDowler was remanded in custody with consent to bail to a sitting of Longford District Court the following Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBail conditions include residing at his Edgeworthstown address, signing on three times a week, a curfew from 10pm to 6am, surrendering his passport and remaining contactable. (irishtimes.com)
- otherUniform gardaí attended the residence to execute a number of court orders. (garda.ie)
- otherThe man was arrested with the assistance of the Armed Support Unit. (garda.ie)
- otherThe man is detained at a Garda station in the Longford area under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (garda.ie)
- otherAll members involved have been given welfare supports. (garda.ie)
- otherGardaí said he was detained for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was held for questioning in Longford under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which allows up to 24 hours' detention without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man was detained at a Garda station in the Longford area under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThree gardaí received minor injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherUniformed gardaí attended Dowler's residence to execute a number of court orders. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Feb2024Man charged with assault after gardaí allegedly shot with pellet gun in Co Longford
First report of the charge against Darren Dowler; the article gives the court appearance, bail conditions and the alleged pellet gun discharge.
accused, Darren Dowler, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Dowlervictim - 21 Feb2024Man arrested as three gardai injured in Longford after firearm discharged
Adds the arrest of the man after a search, detention at a Longford Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and the minor injuries to three gardaí. Says the alleged offences are under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. No charge is reported in this article.
suspect, 30s, malevictim - 20 Feb2024Man shoots at gardaí with pellet gun during attempted search and arrest incident in Longford
Reports the arrest of a man in his 30s, the pursuit and search that followed, that he was detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and that three gardaí suffered minor injuries.
suspect, 30s, malevictimvictimvictim - 20 Feb2024Man Arrested – Firearm discharged at Gardaí, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, 20th February 2024
Official garda.ie press release confirming the man was arrested with Armed Support Unit assistance and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. It names no one and gives his age only as in his 30s. It adds the arrest, the detention and the injuries to three gardaí, and does not mention the later charges or court appearance recorded in case 6490.
suspect, 30s, malevictimvictimvictim - 20 Feb2024Court Appearance – Firearm discharged at Gardaí, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, 20th February 2024
Garda press release confirming that a man in his 30s has been charged and is due before Athlone District Court on 21 February 2024. It does not name him or give the charges.
accused, 30s, male