Thursday 5 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. 12181Burglary · Co. Limerick · 24 Oct 2025

Man sentenced to five years for Limerick rugby museum burglary

Kenneth Sheehan, a 40-year-old man from Moyross, Limerick, allegedly broke into the offices of the International Rugby Museum at 2 Cecil Street on 24 October 2025, ransacking them and taking keys, Limerick Going for Gold badges and a bag of flags. He was also charged with a 2024 burglary in Corbally and a December 2025 robbery on Roches Street. Gardaí arrested him leaving the museum building and he was charged the following day. He pleaded guilty to all charges at Limerick Circuit Court, where Judge Colin Daly sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for six years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Nov
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The intruder allegedly ransacked the museum offices and took keys, Limerick Going for Gold badges and a bag of flags.
  • Kenneth Sheehan is a 40-year-old man who lives at Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick.
  • A Stanley knife taken from the building was found in a recycling bin near the scene.
  • Sheehan was in the company of a woman with her face covered inside the museum and asked her to climb through a window because he could not fit in himself.
Where
The alleged burglary took place at the International Rugby Museum offices at 2 Cecil Street, Limerick.
When
The alleged offences occurred on 24 October 2025.
Investigation
Gardaí arrested a man leaving the building by the front door who identified himself as Kenneth Sheehan.
Charges
Sheehan was charged with burglary at the International Rugby Museum site and possession of a knife at Shannon Street.
In court
He appeared before Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Court from custody and pleaded guilty to all charges.
Sentence
The judge sentenced Sheehan to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for six years.
Other details
  • Sheehan has previous convictions including burglary, robbery, criminal damage, public order, road traffic matters and using a phone while in prison.
  • Gardaí alleged Sheehan committed the offence to fund a crack cocaine addiction, while the defence said he had been unable to get his methadone and had relied on other medication.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe intruder allegedly ransacked the offices and took keys, Limerick Going for Gold badges and a bag of flags. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatKenneth Sheehan is aged 40 and lives at Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe building had ceased trading but the offices were still in use. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí found a Limerick Going For Gold badge and a set of keys in Sheehan's possession. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA Stanley knife taken from the building was found in a bin near the defendant. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA bag of flags was located near his bike at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatDue to his level of intoxication, a doctor suspended questioning for six hours. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSheehan was in the company of a woman with her face covered inside the museum. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe asked the woman to climb through a window because he could not fit in himself. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSheehan unplugged the CCTV cameras but some footage was still captured and downloaded by gardaí. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA woman was woken to an intruder in her bedroom just after 2am and her handbag was missing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatItems stolen from the Corbally victim included cash, a car key and her PPS card. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe Roches Street victim was living in a nearby apartment run by Rehab Care and was in his late 20s. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim had insufficient funds in his account, so Sheehan handed the wallet back and fled. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSheehan has previous convictions including burglary, robbery, criminal damage, public order, road traffic matters and using a phone while in prison. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe intruder allegedly entered the museum offices at 2 Cecil Street by breaking a ground floor window. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred on October 24, 2025. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí received information on 24 October 2025 that a man was observed inside the International Rugby Experience Museum just after 7pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenHe was charged with the museum burglary at 5:42pm the following day. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenA separate burglary occurred at a bungalow in Corbally on 31 July 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí alleged that Sheehan is addicted to crack cocaine and committed the offence to fund his addiction. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponA Stanley knife was found in a recycling bin near the scene, alongside other items from the museum. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested a man leaving the building by the front door, who identified himself as Kenneth Sheehan. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationSheehan told gardaí the knife belonged to him and admitted taking it, badges and keys from the building in an interview. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeKenneth Sheehan was charged with a burglary at the International Rugby Museum site. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeSheehan was also charged with possession of a knife at Shannon Street in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtInspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting, objected to bail being granted. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe accused was brought before a special sitting of Kilmallock Court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Judge Colin Daly from custody and pleaded guilty to all charges. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge refused bail and remanded Sheehan in custody to appear before Limerick District Court for DPP's directions. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe terms were made consecutive, with the final 18 months suspended for six years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceKenneth Sheehan will be in the custody of Limerick Prison for five years in total. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherSheehan's barrister said he had been unable to get his methadone and had relied on other medication, which led to the offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Sheehan told gardaí he entered the property through an open window. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Nov2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Burglar couldn't fit in Limerick rugby museum window so got woman on street to do it

    Reports the sentencing of Kenneth Sheehan at Limerick Circuit Court, where Judge Colin Daly imposed five years' imprisonment (with 18 months suspended) for the rugby museum burglary, a 2024 Corbally burglary, and a December 2025 robbery on Roches Street.

    convicted, Kenneth Sheehan, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Sheehanvictim, femalevictim, late 20s, male
  2. 6 Nov2025
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Limerick man charged with burglary at closed €30m International Rugby Museum

    Gives the charges, the alleged entry through a broken window, the knife found nearby, and the bail refusal. No existing case covers this incident.

    accused, Kenneth Sheehan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Sheehan