Wednesday 28 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. 2481Assault on a garda · Co. Dublin · 25 Jan 2025

Man wields samurai sword at Gardaí in Blanchardstown

A man in a dressing gown attacked two Gardaí with a samurai sword at his property in the Blanchardstown area of west Dublin on 25 January 2025, striking their car as they fled. The man, described as well-known to Gardaí and a dangerous, violent figure, has been on the run since the incident and is also wanted by the PSNI over a separate incident in Northern Ireland.

  1. Reported26 Jan
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man struck the passenger side of the Garda car with the sword (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man screamed that he was sick in the head and on no medication (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man was wearing a dressing gown during the incident (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA male was observed in possession of an offensive weapon, a samurai sword. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man struck the passenger side of the Garda patrol vehicle with the sword. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man struck the vehicle a second time as it pulled back further. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man screamed at the Gardaí while attacking the car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in the Blanchardstown area of west Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at a domestic residence in Castaheany, Dublin 15. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, 25 January 2025 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place at approximately 9:00am on Thursday 23 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe man wielded a samurai sword (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe man has been on the run since the incident (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí took cover in their patrol vehicle and called in the Armed Support Unit for backup. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe suspect had left the area by the time the ASU arrived. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe suspect has been on the run since the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAn Garda Síochána is following a definite line of enquiry and investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is also wanted by the PSNI over an incident in Northern Ireland (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe aggressor is well-known to Gardaí and considered a dangerous, violent figure. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe suspect is also wanted by the PSNI over an incident in Northern Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí do not believe there is any immediate threat to public safety. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jan2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai flee samurai sword-wielding thug as he rushes at them in dressing gown

    First report of the incident; suspect is on the run, well-known to Gardaí, and also wanted by PSNI over a Northern Ireland incident. ASU was called but the suspect had left by the time they arrived.

    suspect, malevictimvictim
  2. 26 Jan2025
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Gardai flee samurai sword-wielding thug as he rushes at them in dressing gown

    First report of the incident; the man is still at large and has not yet been arrested or charged.

    suspect, malevictimvictim