Ireland Case No. 18606Attempted armed robbery · Co. Longford · 14 Sep 2023
Man jailed for five years for attempted armed robbery at Longford filling station
On 14 September 2023, a filling station in Longford town was the scene of an alleged attempted armed robbery by Noel McLoughlin, 32, a man who was later found to have a replica firearm, with the shop owner Joe Raleigh named as the victim. McLoughlin was arrested on 15 September 2023 and charged with two counts, and at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2024 he entered guilty pleas before Judge Kenneth Connolly. The judge imposed five years' imprisonment after mitigation from a headline sentence of seven years and six months, with no portion suspended and the sentence backdated to 15 September 2023. The most recent development is a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on 10 March 2025 on McLoughlin's appeal against sentence, but the text provided is cut off before the outcome.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court13 Dec
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 Jan
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- On 14 September 2023 a man entered a Longford filling station shortly after 8am, asked for tobacco and, when it was handed over, produced a gun and pointed it at the shop owner, Joe Raleigh.
- Other details
- The man was hooded and appeared to be concealing his face, and Raleigh chased him into a nearby estate, where he pointed the gun at Raleigh again before running off.
- McLoughlin has 76 previous convictions dating from 2009 to 2023, and the judge treated the extensive Garda investigation as an aggravating factor.
- Where
- The filling station is named as the Camlin Service Station in Longford town, though one source places it on the Dublin Road in County Longford.
- When
- The incident took place on 14 September 2023.
- Cause
- The offence was committed while McLoughlin was serving a suspended sentence.
- Weapon
- A ballistics report found the 6mm calibre revolver was an airgun designed to resemble a magnum revolver, described in one source as branded Dan Wesson.
- Investigation
- Noel McLoughlin was arrested on 15 September 2023, detained and interviewed, with one source reporting six interviews.
- Gardaí recovered the firearm, gloves worn by the accused and clothing he changed out of after the incident, and DNA extracted from the firearm matched McLoughlin's DNA profile.
- Charges
- McLoughlin was charged with two counts: carrying a firearm with criminal intent under section 27B of the Firearms Act 1964, as amended, and attempted robbery.
- In court
- In the District Court in December 2023 he was sent forward to Longford Circuit Court in custody, with no bail application made.
- On 9 January 2024 he confirmed a signed guilty plea by video link, and on 11 January 2024 he entered guilty pleas to both counts before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court.
- On 10 March 2025 the Court of Appeal delivered judgment on McLoughlin's appeal against sentence, recorded as [2025] IECA 86, and a case summary reads 'Dismiss', though the judgment text provided ends before the final outcome.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of seven years and six months, and after mitigation imposed five years' imprisonment, none of it suspended, backdated to 15 September 2023, with the attempted robbery count taken into consideration.
65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcLoughlin produced a gun and pointed it at the shop owner, Joe Raleigh. (rte.ie)
- whatThe man produced a gun and pointed it at the owner. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA man attempted to rob a Longford filling station while armed with an imitation firearm. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe accused produced a gun and pointed it at the owner when the tobacco was handed over. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA hooded male entered the filling station and appeared to be concealing his face. (courts.ie)
- whereThe attempted robbery was at a service station in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe attempted robbery was at the Camlin Service Station in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe attempted robbery took place at a filling station in Longford. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attempted robbery was at a filling station in Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe attempted robbery took place at a local filling station in Longford. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a service station on the Dublin Road in County Longford. (courts.ie)
- whenThe attempted robbery took place on 14 September. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offences were on 14 September 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenMcLoughlin entered the filling station shortly after 8am on 14 September 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 14 September 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe filling station owner opened the business at 6am on September 14, 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe offending occurred on 14 September 2023. (courts.ie)
- causeThe offence was committed while he was on a suspended sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponThe second count was possession of a 6mm revolver with intent to commit robbery. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponA ballistics report found the weapon was an airgun designed to resemble a magnum revolver. (rte.ie)
- weaponThe man was armed with an imitation firearm. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was an air gun designed to resemble a magnum revolver. (offalyexpress.ie)
- weaponThe male produced a firearm and pointed it at the injured party. (courts.ie)
- weaponThe firearm was a 6mm calibre imitation air revolver designed to imitate a magnum revolver. (courts.ie)
- investigationMcLoughlin was arrested on 15 September. (rte.ie)
- investigationMr McLoughlin was arrested on 15 September 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí recovered the firearm, a pair of gloves worn by the accused, and clothing he changed out of after the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationMr McLoughlin was arrested on September 15 and was interviewed six times. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationDNA extracted from the firearm matched the appellant's DNA profile. (courts.ie)
- investigationThe appellant was arrested, detained and interviewed. (courts.ie)
- chargeNoel McLoughlin is charged with the attempted robbery of a Longford town service station. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe was arraigned on two counts. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeThe appellant was indicted on one count of carrying a firearm with criminal intent under section 27B of the Firearms Act 1964, as amended. (courts.ie)
- chargeThe appellant was also indicted on one count of attempted robbery. (courts.ie)
- courtMcLoughlin was sent forward to the next sitting of Longford Circuit Court on a guilty plea for theft. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe defence solicitor said her client is in custody and there was no application for bail. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe defence solicitor said he could be sent forward in custody on signed pleas to the circuit court sitting on 9 January 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtHe entered guilty pleas to both counts. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtHe had entered a signed guilty plea in the District Court and confirmed it in Circuit Court by video link on Monday, 9 January 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtHis barrister said he is in custody and wants the matter dealt with as soon as possible. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtJudge Kenneth Connelly directed the preparation of a governor's report and a victim impact statement. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to Thursday, 11 January 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtMcLoughlin appeared before Longford Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtMcLoughlin came forward on a signed guilty plea. (rte.ie)
- courtHe appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtHe entered a signed guilty plea. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court on Thursday 11 January 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused entered a signed guilty plea. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe appellant entered a signed plea of guilty on both counts in the District Court. (courts.ie)
- courtThe sentence under appeal was imposed at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2024. (courts.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of seven years and six months. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceAfter mitigation, a five-year sentence was imposed. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 15 September 2023. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceA five-year prison sentence was imposed after mitigation. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceNone of the five-year sentence was suspended. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceAfter mitigation, a five-year prison sentence was imposed. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceNo portion of the five-year sentence was suspended because the offence was committed while on a suspended sentence. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to September 15, 2023, when the accused was first detained by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a post-mitigation sentence of 5 years' imprisonment on the firearm count, with the attempted robbery count taken into consideration. (courts.ie)
- otherMcLoughlin was on a suspended sentence when he carried out the attempted robbery. (rte.ie)
- otherHe has 76 previous convictions dating from 2009 to 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe injured party chased the male out of the premises into a nearby estate, where the male pointed the firearm at him again. (courts.ie)
- otherThe judge treated the extensive Garda investigation as an aggravating factor. (courts.ie)
- otherThe appellant has 76 previous convictions. (courts.ie)
- otherCounsel for the appellant conceded that the judge acted within the margin of discretion in placing the offence on the mid-range of gravity. (courts.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Mar2025[2025] IECA 86 Court of Appeal: The Director of Public Prosecutions -v- Noel McLoughlin
Court of Appeal judgment on the appellant's appeal against sentence. It sets out the facts, the sentence of 5 years' imprisonment, the sentencing remarks and the grounds of appeal. The text provided is cut off before the final outcome.
convicted, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlinvictim, Joe Raleigh, male, irish (judged from name)Joe Raleigh - 16 Jan2024Man jailed for five years for attempted armed robbery in the Midlands
Reports the sentencing of Noel McLoughlin, who was jailed for five years at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2024 for attempted armed robbery at a Longford filling station. No existing case matches this incident.
convicted, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlin - 14 Jan2024Longford man jailed for five years for attempted armed robbery
Reports the sentencing at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2024: five-year sentence after a 7.5-year headline sentence, guilty plea, no suspension because the offence was committed while on a suspended sentence, and backdating to 15 September 2023.
convicted, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlinvictim - 11 Jan2024Man sentenced to five years for attempted armed robbery
Reports the sentencing of Noel McLoughlin, including the court's headline sentence, mitigation, the ballistics finding that the weapon was an airgun, and the backdating of the sentence.
convicted, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlinvictim, Joe Raleigh, irish (judged from name)Joe Raleigh - 10 Jan2024Service Station robbery hearing this Thursday
Adds that McLoughlin entered guilty pleas to both counts at Longford Circuit Court on 9 January 2024, that he is in custody, and that sentencing was adjourned pending a governor's report and victim impact statement.
accused, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlin - 13 Dec2023Charged with attempted robbery at Longford town service station
Reports a District Court appearance where McLoughlin is charged with attempted robbery and sent forward to Longford Circuit Court on a guilty plea for theft. Says he is in custody with no bail application, and that he could be sent forward in custody on signed pleas to the circuit court sitting on 9 January 2024. Does not name the premises or the victim.
accused, Noel McLoughlin, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel McLoughlin