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. 5981Aggravated burglary · Co. Louth · 29 Apr 2024

Masked men hold boy in room during aggravated burglary in Dundalk, Co Louth

On Monday 22 April 2024, three masked men entered a private house in the Ballymascanlan area of Dundalk, Co Louth, and held a 14-year-old boy in a room while they took designer handbags, jewellery and other items. The men were armed with an iron bar, screwdrivers and other tools, and no one was physically harmed, although the boy is believed to have been traumatised. Sources give different times for the raid, 5:15pm to 5:45pm and about 4.15pm to 4.45pm, and the raiders fled in a grey Volvo S60 car. On 30 April 2024 Gardaí appealed for information and dashcam footage and said they were checking whether the raiders were linked to other recent burglaries in the area; no arrest or charge has been reported.

  1. Reported30 Apr
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Three masked men entered a private house and held a 14-year-old boy in a room while they searched for valuables.
Where
The house is in the Ballymascanlan area of Dundalk, Co Louth, close to the Northern Ireland border.
When
The burglary happened on Monday 22 April 2024; one source gives 5:15pm to 5:45pm and the Garda gives about 4.15pm to 4.45pm.
Weapon
The raiders were armed with an iron bar, screwdrivers and other tools.
Other details
  • Designer handbags, jewellery and other items were stolen.
  • No one was physically harmed, but the boy is believed to have been traumatised.
  • The raiders fled the scene in a grey Volvo S60 car.
  • No arrest or charge has been reported in the articles as of 30 April 2024.
Cause
The gang used bleach in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Investigation
  • Gardaí appealed for information, particularly dashcam footage, and asked road users in the area between 4pm and 6pm to come forward.
  • Gardaí are investigating whether the raiders were linked to other recent burglaries in the area.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree masked men entered the property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSeveral items were stolen. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA gang of armed raiders forced their way into the house. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA 14-year-old boy was held in a room in the house by three masked men. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy is believed to have been traumatised. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDesigner handbags and jewellery are believed to have been taken. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe burglary was at a private residence in the Ballymascanlan area of Dundalk. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe aggravated burglary took place at a house in the Ballymascanlan area of Dundalk, Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe area is close to the Northern Ireland Border. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe burglary happened on Monday 22 April, between 5:15pm and 5:45pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe raid took place on Monday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe raid lasted from about 4.15pm to 4.45pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe gang used bleach in an attempt to destroy evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe men were armed with what has been described as an iron bar and other tools. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe raiders were armed with an iron bar, screwdrivers and other tools. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for information, particularly dash cam footage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating whether the raiders were linked to other recent burglaries in the area. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí asked road users in the area between 4pm and 6pm who may have camera or dashcam footage to come forward. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA teenage boy living at the property was at home during the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo one was physically harmed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe suspects fled the scene in a car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNobody was physically harmed in the raid. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe raiders escaped in a grey Volvo S60 car. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Apr2024
    Reportedirishtimes.com, first report
    Masked men held boy (14) in room during aggravated burglary in Louth

    First report of the incident. Gardaí are investigating whether the raiders are linked to other recent burglaries in the area, and are appealing for dashcam footage.

    victim, 14, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 30 Apr2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai investigating aggravated burglary involving 3 masked men with iron bar

    Gives the date as Monday 22 April and the time as between 5:15pm and 5:45pm, describes the weapon as an iron bar and other tools, says items were stolen and the suspects fled in a car, and includes a Garda appeal for dash cam footage.

    victim, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male