Two 17-year-old boys sentenced for drug-debt intimidation shooting in Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Two 17-year-old boys, who were 16 at the time and had no prior convictions, were sentenced in October 2026 for a drug-debt intimidation shooting at a house in Ardleigh Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, on 14 July 2025, and for a campaign of criminal damage and arson targeting seven properties across Westmeath, Offaly and Longford between February and May 2025. The victim was a woman, and the boys, who cannot be named as juveniles, pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly discharging a home-made blank-firing shotgun, criminal damage, arson, and possession of a blank-firing handgun, blank rounds and €7,000 of cannabis. The boy who fired the gun was sent into custody until a date in December, after which a three-year sentence will be suspended over five years, while his co-accused received concurrent sentences including a six-year suspended term, €14,500 in victim compensation by 1 June 2027, and 240 hours of community service. Both boys told the court they had drug debts and were forced to take part, and the judge described the drug barons who used them as 'like a cancer' on the State.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted1 Oct
- Sentenced5 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two boys pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a home-made blank-firing shotgun at a house in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, as part of a drug-debt intimidation campaign.
- One of the boys also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and arson offences targeting seven properties, including torched cars and smashed windows, across Westmeath, Offaly and Longford.
- Where
- The shooting took place at Ardleigh Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and the broader campaign affected properties in Mullingar, Tullamore, Rochfortbridge, Finea (Co Westmeath) and Edgeworthstown (Co Longford).
- When
- The drug-debt intimidation campaign ran from February to May 2025, and the shooting occurred at about 1.30pm on 14 July 2025.
- Cause
- The attacks were part of a drug-debt intimidation campaign, and both boys told the court they had drug debts and were forced to take part.
- Weapon
- A home-made blank-firing 'slammer' shotgun was used in the shooting.
- Investigation
- The boy was charged after his home was searched and his phone was seized in a separate drug and firearm investigation, and videos and messages on the phone linked him to the incidents.
- Charges
- The boys were charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, criminal damage, arson, and possession of a blank-firing handgun, blank rounds of ammunition and €7,000 of cannabis.
- In court
- The case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, where the boys pleaded guilty and the case was adjourned for sentencing on the firearms and drug possession charges.
- Sentence
- The boy who fired the gun was sent into custody until a date in December 2026, after which a three-year sentence will be suspended over five years.
- His co-accused received concurrent sentences, the longest being six years suspended over eight years, plus €14,500 in victim compensation to be paid by 1 June 2027 and 240 hours of community service.
- Other details
- Both boys were 16 at the time of the incident, had no prior convictions, and cannot be named as juveniles.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe boy pleaded guilty to criminal damage and arson offences in 2025 targeting seven properties. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe attacks were part of a drug-intimidation campaign across Westmeath, Offaly and Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe grandmother's car and van were set on fire. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe footage captured the sound of victims screaming. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMessages on the phone discussed whether the boy would produce a gun if occupants came out of the houses. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy sent a text remarking they could not be caught because they were wearing balaclavas as gardaí were arriving. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager told gardaí he did not bring a pistol to the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome families were left with boarded-up windows until they could afford replacements. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne of the pair carried out attacks on houses, torched four cars, and carried out a drug-debt intimidation campaign across three midlands counties. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager who fired the gun admitted a further charge of criminal damage to the door of the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne youth admitted to criminal damage and arson offences in 2025 targeting seven properties mainly in Westmeath but also in Offaly and Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe same teenager pleaded guilty to possessing a blank-firing handgun, blank rounds of ammunition and €7,000 of cannabis. (irishtimes.com)
- whereA house in Finea, Co Westmeath was targeted while a grandmother was at home with family members including four grandchildren. (irishtimes.com)
- whereOn 13 May 2025, a house in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford had its windows smashed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe drug-debt intimidation incidents occurred in Mullingar, Tullamore, Rochfortbridge, Finea and Edgeworthstown from February to May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe boy was charged after his home was searched and his phone seized in a separate drug and firearm investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationVideos and messages on the boy's phone linked him to the incidents. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Garda Kevin Lennon was part of a team assembled to investigate incidents of arson and criminal damage connected to drug debts in counties Westmeath, Offaly and Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned for sentencing on separate firearms and €7,000 drug possession charges, with the youth on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe teen who fired the gun was sent into custody until a date in December, after which he will have a three-year sentence suspended over him for the next five years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHis co-accused received a series of concurrent sentences, the longest being six years on condition he does not reoffend in the next eight years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe co-accused must pay €14,500 to his victims in instalments to be completed by 1 June 2027. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe co-accused must complete 240 hours of community service. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth boys were 16 and had no prior convictions at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth defendants told the court they had drug debts at the time and were forced to take part in the gun attack. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Oct2026Drug barons ‘a cancer’ on State, says judge, as two boys sentenced for drug-debt intimidation
Reports the sentencing of two minor boys for a drug-debt intimidation shooting and related offences in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, with Judge Keenan Johnson describing the drug barons who used them as 'like a cancer' on the State.
accused, 17, maleaccused, 17, male - 1 Oct2026Boy (16) carried out house and car attacks for ‘Fagin-like’ criminal, court hears
Provides detailed court testimony about the criminal damage and arson incidents, including specific properties in Finea (Westmeath) and Edgeworthstown (Longford), video evidence from the boy's phone showing him destroying evidence, messages discussing firearms, and victim impact statements. Case adjourned for sentencing on firearms and drug charges.
accused, 16, malevictim, female