Friday 30 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. 16368Dangerous driving and theft of a vehicle · Co. Limerick · 4 Aug 2024

Three charged after collision with Garda car in Castletroy, Limerick

On the evening of Sunday 4 August 2024, gardaí tried to stop a group of young men who were reportedly performing donuts in Castletroy, Limerick, and a garda vehicle collided with their car, while cars were later damaged in Corbally. Gardaí arrested five males, aged in their teens and early 20s and not named in the sources, who were suspected of being ringleaders of a gang behind a spate of car thefts in Limerick city. Two were later released, one pending referral to the youth diversion programme and the other with a file to the DPP, and three were charged. The three charged males were due before Ennis District Court on Tuesday 6 August 2024, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged5 Aug
    2 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí arrested five young men suspected of being ringleaders of a gang behind a spate of car thefts in Limerick city.
  • An official garda vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by the suspected offenders, and a Regional Support Unit vehicle was damaged.
  • Later that evening, a number of vehicles were damaged in Corbally by a stolen car.
Where
The suspected dangerous driving and vehicle theft happened in the Castletroy area of Limerick.
When
The incident happened on the evening of Sunday 4 August 2024.
Cause
The suspects were understood to have been performing donuts when gardaí tried to stop them in Castletroy.
Other details
  • No injuries were reported at the time of the garda statement.
  • One male was released pending referral to the youth diversion programme, and another was released with a file to be prepared for the DPP.
Investigation
  • Some of the young men ran into the Shannon to escape and were tracked down by gardaí with help from Limerick Fire and Rescue Service.
  • Five males, aged in their teens and early 20s, were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Limerick City.
  • Gardaí said their investigations are ongoing.
Charges
Three of the five males have been charged.
In court
One report says all three charged males were due before Ennis District Court on the morning of Tuesday 6 August 2024, while another says only one of the charged men was due there on that date.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested five young men suspected of being ringleaders of a gang behind a spate of car thefts in the city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA garda vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by the suspected offenders. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA garda Regional Support Unit vehicle was damaged. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatLater that evening, a number of vehicles were damaged by a stolen car in Corbally. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatAn official Garda vehicle was involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by the suspected offenders. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatNo injuries had been reported at the time of the statement. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe dangerous driving and suspected vehicle theft happened in the Castletroy area. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in the Castletroy area of Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenCars were damaged in Corbally on Sunday evening. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on the evening of Sunday 4 August 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeThe incident involved alleged dangerous driving and suspected theft of a vehicle. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationOfficers arrested a number of males over the collision with the garda vehicle. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationSome of the young men ran into the Shannon to escape and were tracked down by gardaí with help from Limerick Fire and Rescue Service. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested five males following the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe five males were aged in their teens and early 20s and were detained at a Garda station in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said their investigations were ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeThree of the males have been charged. (limerickleader.ie, limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe three charged males are due to appear before Ennis District Court on Tuesday 6 August. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe three charged males were due to appear before Ennis District Court on the morning of Tuesday 6 August 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe suspects were understood to have been performing donuts when gardaí tried to stop them in Castletroy. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherNo injuries were reported. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe five males arrested are aged in their teens and early 20s. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherAll five were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Limerick City. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherOne male was released from custody pending referral to the youth diversion programme. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherAnother male was released from custody and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherOne of the males was released from custody pending referral to the youth diversion programme. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherAnother of the males was released from custody and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Aug2024
    Chargedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    Three charged following alleged collision with Garda car and suspected theft in Limerick

    Reports that three males have been charged and are due before Ennis District Court on 6 August 2024. Gives the Garda Press Office account of the arrests, the collision and the outcome for the other two males.

    accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, male
  2. 5 Aug2024
    Chargedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Five young men arrested after garda vehicle rammed and cars damaged in Limerick

    First report of the arrests of five young men linked to a car theft gang, including a collision with a garda vehicle in Castletroy and damage to cars in Corbally. Three of the five have been charged, and one of the charged men is due before Ennis District Court on 6 August 2024.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male