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. 5908Possession of a firearm (sawn-off shotgun) · Co. Dublin · 7 May 2024

Teen denied bail after alleged possession of sawn-off shotgun, Dublin

On Tuesday 7 May 2024, gardaí searched a wasteland area in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, and seized suspected cocaine, cannabis and a sawn-off shotgun in two searches. A male juvenile, 17 according to the Irish Times and in his teens according to gardaí, was arrested at the scene and is alleged to have been caught digging up the firearm. He was charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun, and at a contested hearing on 9 May 2024 the Dublin Children's Court refused him bail and he is due to appear again the following week. He has not yet indicated a plea, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested7 May
    3 reports
  3. Charged7 May
  4. In court9 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized suspected cocaine, cannabis and a sawn-off shotgun in two searches of a wasteland area.
  • The first search found suspected cocaine valued at €59,500 according to gardaí, or €59,000 according to dublinlive.
  • The second search found suspected cocaine valued at €52,500 and cannabis worth €5,400, with the total seizure about €117,400.
Where
The searches took place on a wasteland area in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, which the Irish Times says was Tolka Valley Park, a location other sources do not name.
When
  • The first search and a second search were carried out on Tuesday 7 May 2024, with the second search later that day.
  • Further searches took place on Wednesday 8 May 2024, according to a garda press release.
Other details
The suspect is a male juvenile, 17 according to the Irish Times and in his teens according to gardaí, and cannot be identified because he is a minor.
Weapon
Gardaí describe the firearm as a sawn-off shotgun, while the Irish Times charge refers to a side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun.
Cause
The firearm is linked to a feud between organised crime gangs linked to two murders.
Investigation
  • The juvenile was arrested at the scene on Tuesday night and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in North Dublin.
  • The drugs and firearm will be sent for further examination, and investigations into the seizures are ongoing.
Charges
The juvenile was charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun contrary to the Firearms Act, with the charge relating to 7 May.
In court
  • The juvenile was due before the Dublin Children's Court on 9 May 2024 at 10.30am, where a contested bail hearing refused him bail.
  • He is due to appear again the following week, has not yet indicated a plea, and has been granted legal aid, with no decision yet on the trial venue.
45 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized cocaine, cannabis and a firearm. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized about €117,400 of drugs and a firearm in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, on 7 May 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe second search recovered suspected cocaine estimated at €52,500, cannabis worth €5,400 and a sawn-off shotgun. (garda.ie)
  • whatA teenage boy was arrested after gardaí seized drugs and a shotgun in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine worth an estimated €59,500 was recovered in the first search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine worth an estimated €52,500 and €5,400 of cannabis were recovered in the second search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA 17-year-old boy was denied bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy was allegedly caught digging up a firearm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe seizure took place in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a wasteland area. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe drugs and firearm were found during a search of a wasteland in west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe searches took place on a wasteland area in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe firearm was recovered at Tolka Valley Park. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe seizure took place on Tuesday 7 May 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenFurther searches took place on Wednesday 8 May 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenA second search of the same wasteland area was carried out later the same day. (garda.ie)
  • whenGardaí found €59,000 of suspected cocaine in a wasteland area in Blanchardstown on Tuesday, May 7. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe first search was conducted on a Tuesday by the Finglas Drugs Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenA second search of the same wasteland area was conducted later the same day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe possession charge relates to May 7. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe boy was intercepted at 9.10pm on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe firearm is linked to feuding crime gangs. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA sawn-off shotgun was recovered during the second search. (garda.ie)
  • weaponA sawn-off shotgun was recovered along with suspected cocaine worth €52,500 and cannabis worth €5,400. (dublinlive.ie)
  • weaponA sawn-off shotgun was recovered in the second search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe firearm was a sawn-off shotgun. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe first search recovered suspected cocaine estimated at €59,500. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA male juvenile in his teens was arrested at the scene. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs and firearm will be sent for further examination. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe teen was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in North Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs and the firearm will be sent for further examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations into the seizures are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe boy was arrested on Tuesday night. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGardaí have charged the arrested juvenile. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe boy was charged with unlawful possession of a side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun contrary to the Firearms Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe juvenile was due to appear before Dublin's Children's Court on 9 May 2024 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtA contested bail hearing took place at Dublin Children's Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBail was refused and the boy will appear again next week. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe boy has not yet indicated a plea. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe juvenile is detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in North Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • otherA second search later that day found more drugs and a gun. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA male juvenile was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in North Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherLegal aid was granted. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA decision on the trial venue has not yet been made. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 May2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Dublin teen associated with feuding organised crime group caught digging up sawn-off shotgun, court told

    Bail was refused at a contested hearing at Dublin Children's Court. Gardaí linked the firearm to a feud between organised crime groups. The teen also faces a violent disorder charge at Browne's steakhouse, which was before the court that day. Other murder cases mentioned in the article are not included.

    accused, 17, male
  2. 8 May2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Teen arrested after gardai seize sawn-off shotgun alongside cocaine and cannabis

    Adds the drug seizures from the same two searches, the arrest at the scene, detention under Section 30 at a North Dublin Garda station, and that the seized items are going for examination. Does not name Tolka Valley Park or say the teen was charged.

    suspect, teens, male
  3. 8 May2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Teen arrested after gardai seize cocaine and shotgun in Dublin

    Adds the arrest at the scene, the detention under Section 30, and the location and drugs seized from a wasteland in Blanchardstown. The article reports no charge or court appearance.

    suspect, teens, male
  4. 7 May2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    €117,400 Drugs and Firearm Seized, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Tuesday 7th May 2024

    Adds the drug seizure values (about €117,400 in total), the cocaine and cannabis recovered, and the arrest and detention of a male juvenile at the scene. The article does not name the site as Tolka Valley Park, but the date, the sawn-off shotgun and the juvenile arrest match case 5908.

    suspect, teens, male
  5. 7 May2024
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - Drug and Firearm Seizure, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. 7th May, 2024.

    Garda press release confirming a juvenile has been charged over the 7 May seizure of cocaine, cannabis and a firearm in Blanchardstown, and that further searches took place on 8 May. It adds the cocaine and cannabis seizure and the 8 May searches, and gives the Children's Court appearance on 9 May. The juvenile is not named.

    accused