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. 6393Firearms offence · Co. Kildare · 2 Mar 2024

Three men granted bail over firearms and ammunition seized in Kildare

Three men aged 19, 20 and 21, named in court reports as Evan Fitzgerald (21), Shane Kinsella (20) and Daniel Quinn Burke (19), were arrested after gardaí stopped and searched a vehicle at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan, Co Kildare, on Saturday 2 March 2024 and seized a handgun, a rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition. They were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and charged with possession of firearms and ammunition. On Monday 4 March 2024, Judge Desmond Zaidan granted them bail at Naas District Court on strict conditions, including surrendering passports and signing on daily at a Garda station. The latest development is that the accused are due to appear in court again on 6 June for DPP directions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested2 Mar
    4 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court2 Mar
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized a handgun, a rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition after stopping and searching a vehicle.
Where
Press releases place the stop in the Kildare area, while the court was told it took place at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan, Co Kildare.
When
The vehicle was intercepted shortly after 10am on Saturday 2 March 2024.
Cause
The stop followed intelligence-led investigations into firearm trafficking, and it was alleged the guns were bought on the dark web using a proton email account.
Weapon
Gardaí seized an M1911 handgun and a G3 rifle, and one account reports a considerable volume of bullets, while a court report describes the G3 as a Heckler and Koch machine gun.
Investigation
  • Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Emergency Response Unit, carried out the stop and search.
  • Investigations are ongoing, including into who sold the guns.
Other details
  • Evan Fitzgerald (21), Shane Kinsella (20) and Daniel Quinn Burke (19) were arrested in relation to possession of firearms.
  • The three men were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939/98 at Garda stations in Co Kildare.
  • It was alleged that Mr Quinn Burke drove the car and that he and Mr Kinsella knew what was being carried.
  • It was alleged the guns were to be used for shooting in woods and not for hunting, and gardaí did not believe they were linked to organised crime.
Charges
The three men were charged with possession of a G3 Heckler and Koch machine gun, a Remington M1911 handgun and two types of ammunition on 2 March at Ponsonby Bridge.
In court
  • On Monday 4 March 2024 at Naas District Court, Judge Desmond Zaidan granted bail after gardaí initially objected and then withdrew the objection on the basis of strict conditions.
  • The bail conditions include surrendering passports, not speaking to each other and signing on daily at a Garda station.
  • The accused will next appear in court on 6 June for DPP directions.
51 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe case concerns the seizure of firearms. (garda.ie)
  • whatA rifle, a handgun and 40 rounds of ammunition were seized after gardaí stopped and searched a vehicle. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized two guns and ammunition following a vehicle stop. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGuns recovered by gardaí in Co Kildare had been purchased off the dark web by a young man. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe vehicle was intercepted in the Kildare area shortly after 10am. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe vehicle was searched in Kildare. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereFirearms and ammunition were found during a vehicle search in Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe vehicle stop took place in Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences were alleged to have happened at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe seizure is dated 2nd March 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Saturday 2 March 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe seizure took place on Saturday 2 March 2024, at around 10am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe vehicle was intercepted and searched shortly after 10am on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe vehicle stop took place on a Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have happened on 2 March. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe operation was based on intelligence-led investigations targeting firearm trafficking. (garda.ie)
  • causeThe seizure was the result of an investigation targeting firearm trafficking. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeThe vehicle interception resulted from intelligence-led investigations targeting firearm trafficking. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeIt was alleged the firearms and ammunition were bought on the dark web using a proton email account. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA handgun, a rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition were seized from the vehicle. (garda.ie)
  • weaponAn M1911 handgun, a G3 rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition were found during the search of the vehicle. (dublinlive.ie)
  • weaponAn M1911 handgun, a G3 rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition were found during the search. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA handgun and a rifle were found in the vehicle, along with a considerable volume of bullets. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponGardaí seized one M1911 handgun, one G3 rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOfficers from the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Emergency Response Unit, intercepted a vehicle. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers from the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Emergency Response Unit, carried out the seizure. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOfficers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched the vehicle based on intelligence from investigations targeting firearms trafficking. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers from the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau took part, supported by the Emergency Response Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí confirmed that investigations into the discovery are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had been investigating firearms trafficking. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí performed a controlled stop of a vehicle at Ponsonby Bridge with support from the Emergency Response Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing into who sold the guns. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe three men were arrested in relation to possession of firearms. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThree men were arrested in relation to the possession of firearms. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThree men were arrested in relation to possession of firearms. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe three men were charged with possession of a G3 Heckler and Kock machine gun, a Remmington M1911 handgun and two types of ammunition. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe article is about a court appearance. (garda.ie)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan granted bail on Monday morning at Naas District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí initially objected to bail but withdrew the application on the basis of strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe bail conditions included surrendering passports, not speaking to each other and signing on daily at a Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused will next appear in court on June 6th for DPP directions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThree men aged 19, 20 and 21 were arrested in relation to possession of firearms. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe three men are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939/98 at Garda stations in Co. Kildare. (garda.ie)
  • otherThree men aged 19, 20 and 21 were arrested following the seizure. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe three men were detained at Garda stations in Co. Kildare. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe three men were detained under the Offences Against the State Act at Garda stations in Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three men were detained at Garda stations in Co Kildare under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherIt was alleged the guns were to be used for shooting in woods but not for hunting. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí did not believe the firearms were connected with organised crime. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Quinn Burke had driven the car, and he and Mr Kinsella had known what was being carried in the vehicle. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Mar2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Guns seized in Kildare bought off dark web by man who had ‘fascination’ with firearms

    Court report on the bail hearing: names and ages of the three accused, the firearms charged, the bail conditions, the alleged purchase on the dark web, and the next court date of June 6th.

    accused, Evan Fitzgerald, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evan Fitzgeraldaccused, Shane Kinsella, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kinsellaaccused, Daniel Quinn Burke, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Quinn Burke
  2. 3 Mar2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Three arrested as gardaí seize arms and ammunition after vehicle stop in Kildare

    Adds the arrests, the vehicle stop, the specific firearms seized and the investigating units. Existing case 6393 covers the later charges and bail at Naas District Court.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  3. 2 Mar2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Three men arrested after handgun, rifle and ammunition found in Co Kildare

    Adds the arrests, the Garda unit and intelligence basis, the weapons found, the men's ages as a group, and the detention under the Offences Against the State Act. Does not name the men.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  4. 2 Mar2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Assault rifle and handgun seized after gardai intercept vehicle in Kildare

    Adds the arrest stage, the weapons seized (an M1911 handgun and a G3 rifle), the units involved and the ages of the three arrested men. The existing case already records the charges and bail at court.

    suspect, 19, malesuspect, 20, malesuspect, 21, male
  5. 2 Mar2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Arrests and Seizure of Firearms, Co. Kildare. 2nd March, 2024.

    Garda press release with no names. It gives the arrest details: the vehicle was intercepted by GNDOCB officers supported by the Emergency Response Unit, the seized weapons and ammunition, and the three men's ages (19, 20, 21), who were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. It does not state charges or bail.

    suspect, 19, malesuspect, 20, malesuspect, 21, male
  6. 2 Mar2024
    In courtgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance: Seizure of Firearms, Co. Kildare, 2nd March 2024

    Official garda.ie court appearance notice, with no body text. It matches the existing firearms seizure case in Kildare on 2 March 2024 and confirms a court appearance. It names no people.