Sunday 1 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. 12649Violent disorder, weapons offences, possession of explosives · Co. Kilkenny · 11 Mar 2025

Six men sent for trial over Callan violent disorder and weapons charges

Two alleged violent incidents occurred in the Callan area in March 2025, involving six men from the O'Reilly and Bergin families, all from the Skeogh area. James O'Reilly, Michael O'Reilly Snr, Michael O'Reilly Jnr, Tony O'Reilly, Ethan Bergin, 23, and Philip Bergin, 23, were charged with violent disorder, weapons offences, and possession of explosives relating to incidents on March 11 and 13 at Bridge Street and Skeogh. The men appeared in Kilkenny District Court where bail conditions were imposed, including signing on at a garda station, a curfew, and no contact between the two families. The DPP consented to the men being sent forward for trial to Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court commencing November 18.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Apr
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two alleged violent incidents occurred in the Callan area in March 2025.
Where
The incidents took place at Bridge Street, Callan, and in the Skeogh area, County Kilkenny.
When
The charges relate to incidents on March 11 and March 13, 2025.
Charges
  • James O'Reilly, Michael O'Reilly Snr, Michael O'Reilly Jnr, Tony O'Reilly, Ethan Bergin, and Philip Bergin were charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13, 2025.
  • Michael O'Reilly Snr was additionally charged with producing an article intended to intimidate another person at Skeogh on March 11, 2025, and with possession of explosives in suspicious circumstances at his home on March 27, 2025.
  • Tony O'Reilly was additionally charged with producing an article capable of inflicting injury at Skeogh on March 11, 2025.
  • Ethan Bergin was additionally charged with violent disorder at Skeogh on March 11, 2025.
  • Philip Bergin was additionally charged with two counts of violent disorder and possession of an article contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act at Bridge Street on March 13, and with producing an article in the course of a dispute at Skeogh on March 11.
In court
  • The men appeared in Kilkenny District Court where Judge Geraldine Carthy imposed bail conditions including signing on at a garda station, a curfew from 11pm to 7am, and no contact between the O'Reilly and Bergin families.
  • The DPP consented to the men being sent forward for trial to Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court commencing November 18.
Other details
  • Sergeant Morgan O'Connor described the case as a very complicated matter.
  • The defendants' solicitor said there have been no flash points since the charges.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo alleged violent incidents occurred in the Callan area earlier in 2025 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe incident was in Callan, County Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place in the centre of Callan. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe defendants are all from the Skeogh area (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe charge relates to an incident on March 13. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe court heard that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are still outstanding. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeJames O'Reilly was charged with violent disorder. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeJames O’Reilly is charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMichael O’Reilly Snr is charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street on March 13. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMichael O’Reilly Snr is charged with producing an article intended to intimidate another person at Skeogh on March 11, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMichael O’Reilly Snr is charged with possession of explosives at 5 Skeogh, Callan, on March 27, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMichael O’Reilly Jnr is charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeTony O’Reilly is charged with producing an article capable of inflicting injury at Skeogh, Callan, on March 11, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeTony O’Reilly is also charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13, 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeEthan Bergin is charged with violent disorder at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeEthan Bergin is also charged with violent disorder at Skeogh on March 11, 2025 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargePhilip Bergin is charged with two counts of violent disorder and possession of an article contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act at Bridge Street, Callan, on March 13 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargePhilip Bergin is charged with producing an article in the course of a dispute at Skeogh on March 11 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMichael O'Reilly Snr is charged with possession of explosives in suspicious circumstances at his home on March 27, 2025 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtGardaí did not object to bail, but conditions were to be imposed. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJudge Geraldine Carthy ordered him to sign on at a garda station three days a week. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtHe must observe a daily curfew from 11pm to 7am. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtHe must not commit any further offences. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtHe must have no contact, direct or indirect, with a specific family from Skeaugh. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtHe must stay away from two specified addresses, in Skeaugh and in Callan. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to a sitting in June. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtAn application to change bail conditions to signing on at a garda station once a week was approved. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtAn application to lift a curfew was denied. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJudge Carthy adjourned the case to a sitting in October for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtBooks of evidence were presented to all defendants prior to a sitting of Kilkenny District Court (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe DPP consented to the men being sent forward for trial to Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court commencing November 18 (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJudge Geraldine Carthy issued the usual alibi warning to all defendants (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe O'Reillys were remanded on bail to November with conditions including signing on at a garda station weekly, a curfew of 11pm to 7am, and no contact with the Bergin family (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherSergeant Morgan O’Connor described the case as a very complicated matter. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said there have been no flash points since the charges. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Sep2025
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, follow-up
    Men of two Kilkenny families face violent disorder trial

    Reports the sending forward for trial of six defendants from two families on violent disorder and weapons charges, with bail conditions imposed by Judge Geraldine Carthy.

    accused, Ethan Bergin, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ethan Berginaccused, Philip Bergin, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Berginaccused, James O'Reilly, male, named, irish (judged from name)James O'Reillyaccused, Michael O'Reilly Snr, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael O'Reilly Snraccused, Michael O'Reilly Jnr, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael O'Reilly Jnraccused, Tony O'Reilly, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony O'Reilly
  2. 21 Jul2025
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, follow-up
    Man charged with having explosives in Kilkenny home - four charged with violent disorder

    First report of the court appearance of four men charged over the Callan incident and related charges; names the four defendants, lists each charge with date and place, and records bail applications and the adjournment to October.

    accused, James O'Reilly, male, named, irish (judged from name)James O'Reillyaccused, Michael O'Reilly Snr, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael O'Reilly Snraccused, Michael O'Reilly Jnr, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael O'Reilly Jnraccused, Tony O'Reilly, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony O'Reilly
  3. 11 Apr2025
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Stay away! Court orders man to avoid two Kilkenny properties

    Reports the bail conditions and adjournment in the violent disorder case. The article gives no year for the March 13 incident.

    accused, James O'Reilly, named, irish (judged from name)James O'Reilly