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. 6368Imitation firearm (alleged) · Co. Dublin · 5 Mar 2024

Man in 70s arrested after imitation pistol allegedly produced at Malahide meeting

On the evening of Tuesday 5 March 2024, a man in his 70s allegedly produced a plastic imitation pistol during a heated debate at a meeting of the Gaelic Referees and Officials Association in a hotel in Malahide, Co Dublin. Gardaí arrested him at the scene under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and established that the pistol was an imitation that posed no threat. He was released without charge, and gardaí said a file would be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The latest reports say investigations are ongoing and no charge or court proceedings have been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested6 Mar
    2 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man in his 70s was arrested after a weapon was allegedly brandished at a meeting.
Where
The incident happened at a hotel in Malahide, Co Dublin.
When
It happened on the evening of Tuesday 5 March 2024.
Cause
It is alleged the man took out the pistol during a heated debate at the meeting.
Weapon
Some sources describe the item as a firearm, but gardaí established it was a plastic imitation pistol that posed no threat.
Other details
  • The meeting was of the Gaelic Referees and Officials Association, a group formed in December that is not recognised by the GAA.
  • The incident was first reported on 6 March 2024.
  • A file is to be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Investigation
  • The man was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
  • The man has since been released and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
The man was released without charge.
In court
No court proceedings have been reported.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man in his 70s was arrested after a firearm was allegedly brandished. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man allegedly produced a plastic imitation pistol during a meeting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at a hotel in Malahide. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe meeting was held in a hotel in Malahide, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on the evening of Tuesday 5 March 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Tuesday evening, 5 March 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeIt is alleged the man took out the imitation pistol during a heated debate at the meeting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponA firearm was allegedly brandished. (dublinlive.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was a plastic imitation pistol. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe man has been released. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA file is to be prepared for the DPP. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí quickly established that the pistol was imitation and posed no threat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA male in his 70s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe meeting is understood to have been organised by the Gaelic Referees and Officials Association. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man was released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA file is to be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Mar2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    OAP arrested after 'gun brandished during debate' at Gaelic referees' meeting

    First report of the incident. Gives the arrest, the imitation status of the pistol, the detention under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and the release without charge with a file going to the DPP.

    suspect, 70s, male
  2. 6 Mar2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man, 70s, arrested after brandishing gun at referee meeting in north Dublin

    First report of the incident. Adds the arrest, the release without charge, the file to the DPP and the reported organiser of the meeting.

    suspect, 70s, male