Friday 6 November 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. 23070Attempted hijacking and assault · Co. Offaly · 26 Oct 2026

Man remanded in custody over attempted hijacking and assault in Edenderry

Shane Purcell, 26, from Knockdrin, Rhode, was remanded in custody on 6 November 2026 after appearing by video link at Tullamore District Court. He is accused of two attempted vehicle hijackings and assaults on Dublin Road, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, on 26 October 2026. In the first incident at approximately 6.40am, a male entered an occupied car and attempted to take control before exiting; the driver, a man in his 20s, reportedly received injuries. A second incident at approximately 6.45am near a filling station involved a 2020 Kildare-registered BMW. Purcell is also charged with assaulting the owners of both vehicles and damaging three other vehicles, including a garda car.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested26 Oct
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Nov
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two incidents of attempted hijacking of vehicles and alleged assaults occurred on Dublin Road, Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
  • In the first incident, a male entered an occupied car, attempted to take control, then exited and left the scene.
  • The accused is Shane Purcell, 26, from Knockdrin, Rhode.
  • The vehicles involved were a 2019 Offaly-registered car and a 2020 Kildare-registered BMW.
When
The incidents occurred on Monday 26 October 2026 at approximately 6.40am and 6.45am near a filling station.
Charges
Purcell is accused of the attempted unlawful seizure of two vehicles, assaulting the owners of both vehicles, and damaging three other vehicles including a garda car.
Investigation
  • Purcell was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Co. Offaly area.
  • Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and camera footage from Dublin Road, Edenderry between 6.00am and 7.00am on 26 October 2026.
In court
  • Purcell appeared by video link at Tullamore District Court on 6 November 2026 before Judge Andrew Cody, represented by Aisling Maloney, solicitor.
  • The prosecution sought a two-week remand in custody for DPP directions, and the DPP had not yet decided whether the charges would be heard in the District Court or Circuit Court.
  • Judge Cody ordered Purcell to appear by video link on 18 November 2026.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo incidents of attempted hijacking of vehicles and alleged assaults occurred at Dublin Road, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatTwo incidents of attempted hijacking of vehicles and alleged assaults occurred in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatIn the first incident, a male entered an occupied car, attempted to take control, then exited and left the scene. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe accused is Shane Purcell, 26, from Knockdrin, Rhode (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatOne vehicle was a 2019 Offaly registered car (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe other vehicle was a 2020 Kildare registered BMW (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incidents occurred on Dublin Road in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at Dublin Road, Edenderry (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incidents occurred on Monday 26 October 2026. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe first incident occurred at approximately 6.40am. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe second incident occurred at approximately 6.45am near a filling station on Dublin Road, Edenderry. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe first incident took place at approximately 6.40am on Monday 26 October 2026. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe second incident took place at approximately 6.45am on Dublin Road near a filling station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences were allegedly committed on 26 October 2026 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Co. Offaly area. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses, especially those in the vicinity of Dublin Road, Edenderry between 6.00am and 7.00am on Monday 26 October 2026. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationRoad users or pedestrians with camera footage including dash-cam or smartphone are asked to make it available to Gardaí. (kildarenow.com, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Garda Station on (057) 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe arrested male is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Offaly area. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses, especially those in the vicinity of Dublin Road, Edenderry between 6.00am and 7.00am on Monday 26 October. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of the attempted unlawful seizure of two vehicles (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of assaulting the owner of the BMW, causing her harm (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of assaulting the owner of the other car (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of damaging three other vehicles (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeOne charge relates to damage to the rear door of a garda vehicle (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeAnother charge alleges damage to the handle on the passenger door of a woman's vehicle (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeA third charge alleges damage to the front wheel arch of a man's vehicle (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtHe appeared by video link at Tullamore District Court (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtHe was represented by Aisling Maloney, solicitor (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSergeant Justine Reilly was the court presenter (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody presided over the hearing (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution sought a two-week remand in custody for DPP directions (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe DPP had not yet decided whether the charges would be heard in the District Court or the Circuit Court (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Cody ordered Purcell to appear by video link on 18 November 2026 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe charges were brought by Detective Garda Joseph Bradley (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Nov2026
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man in custody accused of Offaly assaults and double carjacking

    First court appearance; remanded in custody for two weeks pending DPP decision on whether charges will be heard in District or Circuit Court.

    accused, Shane Purcell, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Purcellvictim, femalevictimvictim, femalevictim, male
  2. 26 Oct2026
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Garda appeal after attempted hijackings and alleged assaults in Offaly

    First report of two attempted hijackings and assaults in Edenderry; one suspect arrested and detained under Section 4; gardaí appealing for witnesses and camera footage from Dublin Road between 6.00am and 7.00am.

    victim, 20s, malesuspect, malevictim, 40s, femalesuspect, 20s, male
  3. 26 Oct2026
    Arrestedkildarenow.com, first report
    Man arrested after attempted hijacking of cars in Edenderry

    First report of two attempted vehicle hijackings in Edenderry; one suspect arrested and detained under Section 4, the other at large; gardaí appealing for witnesses and camera footage.

    victim, 20s, malevictim, 40s, femalesuspect, malesuspect, 20s, male