Ireland Man remanded in custody over false imprisonment at Bray District Court
A 31-year-old non-Irish woman was allegedly falsely imprisoned by Karl O'Reilly, 40, an Irish man, who locked her in a yellow Renault Traffic van in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and drove her approximately 300km to Co Mayo on 12 March 2024. Gardaí issued a countrywide alert and the van was located near Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, where the woman was rescued and O'Reilly was arrested. He was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of threatening to kill, a section three assault, and possession of a knife, relating to incidents in Co Longford on 28 February and Arklow on 12 March. O'Reilly appeared at Bray District Court on 14 March, where bail was refused, and on 21 March he was remanded in continuing custody by video link, with the case adjourned to 18 April.
- Reported12 Mar
2 reports - Arrested12 Mar
7 reports - Charged12 Mar
- In court14 Mar
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 31-year-old non-Irish woman was allegedly falsely imprisoned by a man who locked her in a yellow Renault Traffic van in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and drove her approximately 300km to Co Mayo.
- Where
- The incident began in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and the van was located near Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, where the woman was rescued.
- When
- The alleged false imprisonment in the van occurred in the early hours of 12 March 2024, and a second alleged false imprisonment occurred in Co Longford on 28 February 2024.
- Weapon
- Gardaí found a 22cm knife in a hedgerow, and the woman alleged the accused held a knife to her throat.
- Investigation
- Gardaí issued a countrywide alert on 12 March 2024 and the van was located near Kiltimagh within 30 minutes after a member of the public spotted it.
- Charges
- Karl O'Reilly, 40, was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of threatening to kill, a section three assault, and possession of a knife.
- In court
- O'Reilly appeared at Bray District Court on 14 March 2024, where bail was refused, and on 21 March 2024 he was remanded in continuing custody by video link, with the case adjourned to 18 April.
- Other details
- Gardaí believe the man and woman knew each other and had arranged to meet, and the woman was found safe and well and not seriously injured.
- O'Reilly contests the charges.
104 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí have issued an alert over a yellow van last seen in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly falsely imprisoned. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA woman was allegedly falsely imprisoned, and a man has been arrested. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí are investigating an alleged false imprisonment of a woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA woman was abducted in a van. (extra.ie)
- whatGardaí suspect a man falsely imprisoned a woman and drove her 300 kilometres across the country in a yellow van. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident was investigated by gardaí in Arklow. (garda.ie)
- whereA man was arrested after a search for a yellow Renault Traffic van concluded in Mayo. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe van was last seen in Dublin City centre on the morning of the incident. (thejournal.ie)
- whereGardaí in Arklow, Co Wicklow had responded to a public order incident before the van left the scene. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe van was located in Co Mayo about one hour after the garda alert, after a member of the public spotted it and called gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe van was last seen in Dublin City Centre. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe search began in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe arrest was made in the northwest of Ireland. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe van, a yellow Renault Traffic, was found in Co Mayo. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe yellow Renault Traffic van was last seen in Dublin city centre. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGardaí located the van in County Mayo after information from a member of the public. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident began in Arklow, Co Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe woman was rescued by gardaí in Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe van was located in County Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe man was arrested near Kiltimagh in a car park. (thejournal.ie)
- whereA member of the public spotted the van in the Kiltimagh area of Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe woman alleges her liberty was restricted at his home in Granard, Co Longford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe woman was falsely imprisoned in a van in Arklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe has an address at Higginstown Wood, Granard, Co Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place on 12 March 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenGardaí issued the appeal on Tuesday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident began early on the day before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí issued an alert on the afternoon of Tuesday 12 March 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place the afternoon before the article was published. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe drama began in Arklow early on Tuesday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman alleges he became violent on 28 February 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman alleges that on 12 March 2024 he locked her in a van. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe appeared at Bray District Court on Thursday afternoon, where bail was denied. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged false imprisonment in a van happened in the early hours of 12 March. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe Longford charges are alleged to have occurred on February 28th. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí found a 22cm knife in a hedgerow. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe woman complained that the accused held a knife to her throat. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued a public alert asking people to call 999 if they saw the van. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA male suspect aged in his 40s was in custody at a Garda Station in the Northwest. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe investigation into the incident is ongoing. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí are looking for information on the current whereabouts of a yellow Renault Traffic van, registration number 181-D-39433. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe public has been advised not to approach the vehicle but to report any information or sightings to gardaí. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí found the van after help from a member of the public. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe adult male is in custody at a Garda station in the Northwestern Garda Region. (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí issued a countrywide appeal with the van's description and registration. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation into the alleged false imprisonment is ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí issued a public appeal for information on a yellow Renault Traffic van. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed at 3.15pm, and within 30 minutes a member of the public spotted the van near Kiltimagh. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn adult male was arrested and held in custody at a Garda station in the Northwestern Garda Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe van was found after a tip-off from a member of the public. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn adult male has been arrested and is in custody at a Garda station in the Northwestern Garda Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA nationwide hunt has been launched. (extra.ie)
- investigationA countrywide Garda alert was sent out to find the van and its occupants. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationEvery patrol unit in the country was alerted to the warning over the Garda radio system. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationPlain clothes and uniform gardaí reached the car park quickly and rescued the woman. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí do not believe the incident was random. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe man is in custody and can be held for up to 24 hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man has been in custody since a major Garda alert on Tuesday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued an urgent public appeal to find the suspect's van. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe charges relate to a complaint made by a 31-year-old woman who made written statements on 12 March. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationO'Reilly was arrested at an address in Mayo at 4:31pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí found the woman in Mayo and arrested the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man arrested in connection with the incident has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe suspect was arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe investigation concerns an alleged false imprisonment of a female. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe man is being held on suspicion of the false imprisonment of a woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of threats to kill, a section three assault and possession of knives. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with two counts of false imprisonment of a woman who was abducted in Arklow. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was also charged with threatening to kill the woman, assault and possession of a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was further charged with falsely imprisoning the woman in a house in Co Longford on 28 February. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is also facing charges of assault and possession of a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeOne charge of false imprisonment and one charge of threatening to harm are alleged to have occurred in Co Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAnother charge of false imprisonment, threatening to harm and possession of a knife relate to March 12th in Arklow, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man is due to appear before Bray District Court on Thursday 14 March 2024 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
- courtO'Reilly appeared before Bray District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Andrews refused O'Reilly bail and remanded him in custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtO'Reilly is due to appear again before Bray District Court by video link next Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and a flight risk. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Andrews refused bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Bray District Court on 21 March. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was remanded in continuing custody when he appeared by video link at Bray District Court on Thursday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCounsel said directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were awaited in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr O’Reilly did not object to a continuing remand of four weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Mark O’Connell directed the case be put back to April 18th. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí were concerned for the welfare of a woman in her 30s inside the van. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe woman, who had allegedly been falsely imprisoned inside the van, was found and is safe and well. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe woman is safe and well, according to gardaí. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe woman is safe and well and is receiving support from gardaí. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherA member of the public reported seeing a woman struggling with a man in a van. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman is safe and well and receiving support from gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí believe the man and woman knew each other and had arranged to meet. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect can be held for up to 24 hours before being released or charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe alert concerned a specific van, and the public was asked not to approach it. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí had serious concerns about the woman's safety due to earlier interactions with the man and a 999 call. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe woman locked the man out of the van while he was outside it. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe woman was allegedly taken on a 300km drive. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman was found inside the van and was not seriously injured. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí believe the woman knew the suspect and had arranged to meet him. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherO'Reilly contests the charges against him. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused allegedly drove across the country to Co Mayo and refused to let the woman use public toilets. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman complained that the accused threatened to kill her and burn down her family home. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Mar2024Man charged with false imprisonment and threatening to kill remanded in custody
Court appearance at Bray District Court. Gives the alleged dates and locations (Co Longford on February 28th and Arklow, Co Wicklow on March 12th), the charges, and the remand and adjournment details.
accused, Karl O'Reilly, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl O'Reilly - 14 Mar2024Man refused bail for alleged false imprisonment and assault of woman
Reports the court appearance at Bray District Court, where bail was refused and the accused remanded in custody to 21 March. Adds the charges (false imprisonment, threats to kill, assault, knife possession) and a second alleged false imprisonment in Co Longford on 28 February. No existing case matches.
accused, Karl O'Reilly, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl O'Reillyvictim, female - 14 Mar2024Man accused of locking woman in van and threats to 'cut her up and bury her'
Adds the specific charges, the court appearance at Bray District Court, the refusal of bail and remand in custody, the alleged dates (28 February and 12 March 2024), the arrest in Mayo, and the accused's denial of the charges. No existing case covers this matter.
accused, Karl O'Reilly, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl O'Reillyvictim, 31, female - 13 Mar2024Gardai have mere hours left to quiz suspect in alleged false imprisonment case
Adds that the suspect, a man in his 30s, was in custody and could be held up to 24 hours. Says the woman was found in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, after a public sighting of the van, that she was not seriously injured, and that gardaí believe she knew the suspect.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 13 Mar2024Gardaí are continuing to question man at the centre of country-wide van alert
Reports the arrest near Kiltimagh, the countrywide alert for the van, the woman's rescue, and that the man is being questioned at a Mayo garda station.
suspect, male, Irish, irishvictim, female, non-irish (judged from name) - 13 Mar2024Nationwide Hunt Launched After Woman Was Abducted In Van
The article text is empty template markup, so the only information comes from the headline. No location, date or suspect is given. Republic of Ireland status is inferred from the Irish outlet and the nationwide hunt, not stated in the text.
victim, female - 13 Mar2024Man arrested as gardai probe alleged 'false imprisonment of female' after alert
Reports the arrest of an adult male after the van was located in County Mayo. The woman is safe. The article does not name the man or say where the alleged false imprisonment happened, and it does not mention Arklow, Bray District Court or the charges.
suspect, male - 13 Mar2024Gardai quiz man on suspected false imprisonment of woman on 300km horror journey
Adds that the woman was rescued in Co Mayo after a public appeal and a sighting near Kiltimagh, that the suspect was arrested and held in a Mayo Garda station, and that gardaí believe the two knew each other. The article does not name the suspect or mention charges, bail or the Longford offence.
victim, femalesuspect, male - 12 Mar2024Man arrested after woman allegedly falsely imprisoned in van found in Co Mayo
Early report of the arrest and the van's location. The article does not name anyone or say where the alleged imprisonment happened. Case 6312 (Arklow, same date and offence type) was not matched because the locations differ.
victim, femalesuspect, male - 12 Mar2024Man arrested for alleged false imprisonment of woman following yellow van hunt
Reports the arrest of an adult male over the alleged false imprisonment of a woman, the search for a yellow van last seen in Dublin city centre, and the van being found in Co Mayo. The woman is reported safe and well. No name, charge or court appearance is given.
suspect, malevictim, female - 12 Mar2024Gardai issue alert over yellow van last seen in Dublin city centre
Article is the public appeal for the van, with its registration number and a request not to approach it. It does not state the offence, any arrest, or the van's later location in Co Mayo.
- 12 Mar2024Gardaí arrest man after search for yellow Renault Traffic van concludes in Mayo
Reports the arrest of a male suspect in his 40s in the Northwest after the van was located in Co Mayo, and that the woman was found safe and well.
victim, 30s, femalesuspect, 40s, male - 12 Mar2024Court Appearance - False Imprisonment Incident, Arklow. 12th March, 2024.
Official garda.ie press release confirming the man arrested in the Arklow false imprisonment case has been charged and is due before Bray District Court on 14 March 2024. The release names no one.
accused, male