Thursday 29 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. 10676Threat to kill · Co. Mayo

Stephen Kerr arrested over alleged threat to journalist

In 2024 a journalist, Gabija Gataveckaite, posted a tweet reporting a Garda investigation, and Stephen Kerr, a man, replied with the words "RIP Gabija Gataveckaite". Kerr was arrested in Mayo, where three gardai travelled from Dublin, the week before a 2 March 2026 article, over accusations that he threatened to kill an Irish Independent journalist. Kerr denies any intent to threaten and calls the tweet a joke, and he says gardai contacted him a year ago and again by phone a month before the arrest seeking a conversation. As of the article, gardai had not issued a statement on the arrest, and no charge is reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested2 Mar
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stephen Kerr, a man, was arrested over accusations that he threatened to kill a journalist.
  • The journalist is named as Gabija Gataveckaite and is described as working for the Irish Independent.
Where
Kerr was arrested in Mayo by three gardai who travelled from Dublin.
When
  • The arrest took place the week before a 2 March 2026 article was published.
  • The journalist's tweet reporting a Garda investigation was sent in 2024.
Cause
Kerr replied to the tweet with the words "RIP Gabija Gataveckaite".
Investigation
  • Kerr says gardai first contacted him a year ago seeking a conversation.
  • Kerr says gardai followed up by telephone one month before the arrest, again seeking a conversation.
  • Gardai had not issued a statement on the arrest when the article was written.
Other details
  • Kerr denies any intent to threaten the journalist and describes the tweet as a joke.
  • A Gript opinion column by John McGuirk argues the arrest was politically motivated.
Charges
The sources report an arrest only and do not mention a charge.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThree gardai travelled from Dublin to Mayo to arrest him. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe arrest happened the week before the article was published. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe journalist's tweet reporting a Garda investigation was sent in 2024. (gript.ie)
  • causeKerr replied to the journalist's tweet with the words "RIP Gabija Gataveckaite". (gript.ie)
  • investigationKerr says Gardai first contacted him a year ago, seeking a conversation. (gript.ie)
  • investigationKerr says Gardai followed up by telephone one month before the arrest, again seeking a conversation. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardai had not issued a statement on the arrest when the article was written. (gript.ie)
  • chargeKerr was arrested over accusations that he threatened to kill an Irish Independent journalist. (gript.ie)
  • otherKerr denies any intent to threaten the journalist and describes the tweet as a joke. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Mar2026
    Arrestedgript.ie, first report
    The very concerning arrest of Stephen Kerr - Gript

    Opinion column by John McGuirk on Gript. Adds the tweet context, Kerr's account of earlier Garda contact, and the columnist's argument that the arrest was politically motivated. Gardai gave no statement at the time of writing.

    suspect, Stephen Kerr, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Stephen Kerrvictim, Gabija Gataveckaite, female, non-irish (judged from name)Gabija Gataveckaite