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. 4415Firearms recovered (illegal dumping investigation) · Co. Cork · 4 Dec 2025

Significant cache of firearms found in woodland at Templemichael, Co. Cork

Gardaí searching woodland at Templemichael, north of Cork city, on 4 December 2025 as part of an investigation into illegal dumping recovered a significant number of firearms. No arrests have been made and the weapons will undergo technical and ballistic analysis.

  1. Reported4 Dec
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí recovered an assault rifle, two Glock-style handguns and full magazines from a forest north east of Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe two handguns were buried in two buckets and covered with polystyrene foam to protect them from damp and rust. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA large haul of firearms was discovered north of Cork city while Gardaí looked into reports of illegal dumping. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatA significant number of firearms was recovered. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe assault rifle was found buried near where the garda was searching. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereGardaí searched a wooded area at Templemichael, Co. Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe guns were found on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA local garda found the arms cache while investigating complaints of fly-tipping. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí suspect the guns belong to a Cork-city based Real IRA faction. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí say it is too early to say whether the guns were used in any shootings. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBallistic experts will cross-reference the weapons with the 2016 killing of Aidan O'Driscoll. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers from Watergrasshill Garda Station carried out the search. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of ongoing investigations into reports of illegal dumping at the location. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationAll firearms will undergo further technical and ballistic analysis. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made at this time. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherA photograph shows several officers searching a wooded area at the side of a road with at least one Garda dog. (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Dec2025
    Reportedcorkbeo.ie, first report
    'Significant' cache of firearms found as Gardaí probe illegal dumping in Cork

    Initial report of firearms found during a Garda search of woodland; no arrests made yet.

  2. 4 Dec2025
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí discover arms cache believed to be linked to dissident republicans

    Reports the discovery of the arms cache and the planned forensic examination of the weapons.