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. 11386Burglary · Co. Longford

Man pleads guilty to theft and knife possession over Longford house burglary

Darren Reilly, 42, of Longford, and a female co-accused are alleged to have broken into a house in Ferefad, Longford, and stolen about €4,500 worth of jewellery; the incident date is not given. Reilly was found with a stanley knife in an upstairs bedroom after neighbours alerted gardaí, and he was charged with entering the building as a trespasser and with theft. On October 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to theft and to possession of an offensive weapon. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to January 27, and no sentence has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted23 Jan
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
About €4,500 worth of jewellery was stolen from the house.
Where
The house broken into was in Ferefad, Longford.
When
The incident date is not given; the pair remained in the house until 8am.
Cause
The defence said Reilly was in the throes of drug addiction when the incident occurred, and the garda agreed.
Weapon
Reilly was found with a stanley knife in his pocket in an upstairs bedroom.
Investigation
Vigilant neighbours spotted the pair and alerted gardaí.
Other details
  • Reilly and a female co-accused gained entry using a spade or shovel (the sources differ) and by jarring open a side patio door.
  • All of the stolen property was recovered and returned to the owners.
  • Reilly was on bail at the time of the offences and has 12 previous convictions.
  • The judge described the case as on the upper end in terms of seriousness.
Charges
  • Reilly was charged with entering the building as a trespasser and with theft, an arrestable offence.
  • Reilly pleaded guilty at Longford District Court on October 17, 2025, to theft and to possession of an offensive weapon.
In court
  • The prosecution requested a victim impact statement.
  • The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to January 27; no sentence has been reported.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatApproximately €4,500 worth of jewellery was stolen. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe house broken into was in Ferefad, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe pair remained in the house until 8am. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponReilly was found with a stanley knife in his pocket in an upstairs bedroom. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationVigilant neighbours spotted the pair and alerted gardaí. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeDarren Reilly pleaded guilty to theft and to possession of an offensive weapon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeReilly was charged with entering the building as a trespasser and with theft, an arrestable offence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe guilty plea was entered on October 17, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution requested a victim impact statement. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge requested a probation report and adjourned the case until January 27. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe accused and a female co-accused gained entry by using a spade and jarring open a side patio door. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA female co-accused used a shovel to access the property. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherAll of the stolen property was recovered and returned to the owners. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherReilly was on bail at the time of the offences. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherReilly has 12 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Reilly was in the throes of drug addiction when the incident occurred, and the garda agreed. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the case as on the upper end in terms of seriousness. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jan2026
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Theft of jewellery from Longford house 'on the upper end' in terms of seriousness

    Court report of a guilty plea by Darren Reilly, with the plea dated October 17, 2025. The article gives no date for the burglary itself. The judge ordered a probation report and the case was adjourned to January 27; no sentence is reported.

    convicted, Darren Reilly, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Reillyaccused, female