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. 11795Possession of a knife · Co. Laois · 17 May 2025

Teenager accused of possessing kitchen knife outside Portlaoise church

A 17-year-old with a Tipperary address appeared at Portlaoise District Court accused of possessing a large kitchen knife at St Peter and Paul's Church, Portlaoise, in May 2025. The case was adjourned to 5 January 2026.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA bare-chested man was acting aggressively at the church. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened outside St Peter and Paul's Church in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence happened on 17 May 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on May 17 of 2025. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • weaponThe youth was allegedly carrying a large silver kitchen knife. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe youth allegedly ran at the man carrying a large silver kitchen knife. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on routine patrol observed a large gathering outside the church on the date in question. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on routine patrol saw a large gathering outside the church. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe youth is accused of possessing a large kitchen knife at the church. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe youth was accused of possessing a large kitchen knife. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge Susan Fay accepted jurisdiction in the case. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted to the youth's solicitor, Barry Fitzgerald. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned back to Portlaoise District Court on 5 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge accepted jurisdiction in the case. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted to the youth's solicitor. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to Portlaoise District Court on January 5, 2026. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherA holy communion was taking place at the time. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherGardaí activated their sirens and the youth ran from the scene. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the youth was not working. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe youth cannot be named because of his age. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Dec2025
    In courttipperarylive.ie, first report
    Knife-wielding youth with Tipperary address ran at bare chested man at Holy Communion

    First report of this case. The article covers the youth's first court appearance, where a garda said he ran at a bare-chested man carrying a knife during a Holy Communion, and the case was adjourned to 5 January 2026.

    accused, 17, male
  2. 11 Dec2025
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Knife wielding youth ran at bare chested man outside Laois church, court hears

    First report of this case. The article gives the court appearance, the alleged knife possession, the gardaí account of the incident and the adjournment date.

    accused, 17, male