Three men plead guilty over planned Galway mosque bombing
Three men, Garrett Pollock (36), Darren Gorman (34) and Karolis Peckauskas (39), planned to attack the Maryam Mosque in Galway using improvised explosive devices as part of a group calling itself the Irish Defence Army. The plot was foiled on 4 November 2025 when Gardaí stopped Pollock and Peckauskas in a black BMW in Portlaoise during a routine drug stop and found bomb-making equipment, a manifesto and a statement claiming responsibility for the bombing. Pollock pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance and Peckauskas to attempting to engage in terrorist activity, an offence aggravated by hatred. At the Special Criminal Court in October 2026, mitigation pleas were heard and sentencing was adjourned to 13 October 2026, with all three men remanded in custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted5 Oct
2 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Three men planned to attack a Galway mosque using improvised explosive devices and sledgehammers as a public statement.
- Where
- The target was the Maryam Mosque at Old Cottages, Monivea Road, Galway.
- When
- The attempted attack took place between 4 and 5 November 2025.
- Weapon
- The men were carrying knives when stopped, and bomb-making equipment, four IEDs and five litres of peroxide were found in the car and a van.
- Investigation
- Gardaí stopped Pollock and Peckauskas in a black BMW in Portlaoise on 4 November 2025 during a routine drug stop and found a manifesto, written oaths, crests and IED materials in the car.
- Charges
- Pollock pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance and Peckauskas to attempting to engage in terrorist activity, an offence aggravated by hatred.
- In court
- The Special Criminal Court, with Judge Caroline Biggs sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Kevin Staunton, heard mitigation pleas on 9 October 2026 and adjourned sentencing to 13 October 2026.
- Sentence
- All three men were remanded in custody until the sentencing date.
- Other details
- The group styled itself the Irish Defence Army, a right-wing extremist splinter from the Citizens Army formed in October 2025 with an anti-immigration ideology.
- The men shared IED-making information in a Signal group chat called Shadows of Eire and filmed a video warning of further attacks.
- A statement written in the past tense claiming responsibility for bombing a mosque in Galway was found in the car.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe three men planned to attack a Galway mosque using improvised explosive devices. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí found bomb-making equipment in the boot of the car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA manifesto for a group calling itself the Irish Defence Army was found in the car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA statement claiming responsibility for bombing the Galway mosque was found in the car. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe target was the Maryam Mosque at Old Cottages, Monivea Road, Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attempted mosque attack took place between 4 and 5 November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponBoth men were carrying knives when stopped (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí stopped Pollack and Peckauskas in a black BMW in Portlaoise on 4 November 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe plot was foiled when gardaí on a routine drug stop searched the car Pollock and Peckauskas were travelling in. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePollack pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance on 4 November 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offence was aggravated by hatred. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLawyers for Gorman and Pollack will make mitigation pleas the following Friday (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Caroline Biggs, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Kevin Staunton, adjourned sentencing until 13 October 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court remanded all three men in custody until the sentencing date. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThey shared information on making IEDs in the group chat (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí found written oaths, crests, a group manifesto and IED materials in the car (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe group prepared a statement in the past tense taking responsibility for bombing a mosque in Galway (irishtimes.com)
- otherThey filmed a video warning of further attacks (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Irish Defence Army formed in October 2025 as a splinter from the Irish Citizens Army (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe group was described as a right-wing extremist terrorist group with anti-immigration ideology (irishtimes.com)
- otherA hidden drawer in the van contained four IEDs (irishtimes.com)
- otherPeckauskas became radicalised after joining various online groups and was affected by conspiracy theories from a group run by a former broadsheet journalist (irishtimes.com)
- otherPollock worked as a gym instructor before starting to abuse alcohol and cocaine in 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPollock began communicating with people associated with the Irish Citizens Army, a radical anti-immigrant group. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Oct2026Men who planned Galway mosque attack claim they have distanced from radicalising groups
Mitigation pleas at the Special Criminal Court; court heard evidence of radicalisation, mental health and substance abuse; sentencing adjourned to 13 October 2026 and all three remanded in custody.
accused, Garrett Pollock, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Garrett Pollockaccused, Darren Gorman, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Gormanaccused, Karolis Peckauskas, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Karolis Peckauskas - 5 Oct2026Would-be Galway mosque bombers made video warning they would carry out further attacks, court hears
Adds details of the group's Signal chat 'Shadows of Eire', their video warning of further attacks, the items found in the car and van (including four IEDs and five litres of peroxide), Pollack's additional guilty plea for possessing an explosive substance, and Peckauskas's mitigation of sincere remorse and radicalisation through online groups.
suspect, Garrett Pollock, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Garrett Pollocksuspect, Darren Gorman, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Gormansuspect, Karolis Peckauskas, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Karolis Peckauskas