Thursday 5 November 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. 29957Burglary; attempted burglary · Co. Louth · 22 Sep 2021

Two men arrested over burglaries in Swords and Ardee

On 22 September 2021, a van was stolen during a burglary at a house in Swords, Co Dublin, at around 10pm. Shortly after midnight, the van was spotted failing to stop for Gardaí responding to an attempted burglary at a house in Ardee, Co Louth. After a lengthy managed containment operation, the van was intercepted by the Armed Support Unit on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am. Two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested at the scene. Both are detained for questioning at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and the investigation is ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested23 Sep
    6 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A van was stolen during a burglary at a house in Swords, Co Dublin, at approximately 10pm on 22 September 2021.
  • The van was spotted failing to stop for Gardaí responding to an attempted burglary at a house in Ardee, Co Louth, shortly after midnight.
  • The van was intercepted by the Armed Support Unit on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am following a lengthy managed containment operation.
  • Two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested as occupants of the van.
When
The incidents occurred on the night of 22 September 2021.
Where
The burglaries took place in Swords, Co Dublin, and Ardee, Co Louth.
Investigation
  • Both men are detained for questioning at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
  • The investigation is ongoing.
46 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men were arrested following a late-night Garda car chase that began in County Louth and ended in Dublin. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were spotted in a van stolen earlier in the evening and failed to stop for Gardaí. (extra.ie)
  • whatAfter a lengthy managed containment operation, the van was intercepted on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am by members of the Armed Support Unit. (extra.ie)
  • whatArmed gardai stopped a stolen van after attempted late-night burglaries across two counties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle was taken in the course of a burglary at the house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe van was spotted failing to stop for gardai responding to a separate attempted burglary in Ardee, Co Louth, shortly before midnight. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAfter a lengthy managed containment operation, the van was intercepted near Swords shortly after 2am by ASU officers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo men aged in their 20s and 30s were arrested at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested in connection with burglaries in counties Louth and Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whatA van was stolen during a burglary at a house in Swords, Co Dublin, at around 10pm. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí were responding to an attempted burglary at a house in Ardee, Co Louth, shortly after midnight. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe van was intercepted by the Armed Support Unit on the outskirts of Swords at around 2am. (rte.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested in Dublin in connection with two burglaries in north Co Dublin and Co Louth. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe van failed to stop for gardaí responding to an attempted burglary at a house in the Ardee area of Co Louth shortly after midnight. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatTwo men aged in their 20s and 30s were both arrested. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA van was stolen from a house in Swords in the course of a burglary (garda.ie)
  • whatThe van failed to stop for Gardaí responding to an attempted burglary in Ardee (garda.ie)
  • whatThe van was intercepted by the ASU on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am (garda.ie)
  • whatTwo men aged in their 20s and 30s were arrested as occupants of the van (garda.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested following two burglary incidents in Ardee and Swords. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA van was stolen from a house in Swords, Dublin, at approximately 10pm. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatGardaí in Louth observed the van failing to stop while responding to an attempted burglary of a house in Ardee shortly after midnight. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe Armed Support Unit intercepted the van on the outskirts of Swords at approximately 2am. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe two occupants of the van were men in their 20s and 30s respectively. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenA van was taken in the course of a burglary from a house in Swords at approximately 10pm on Wednesday night. (extra.ie)
  • whenThe van was observed and failed to stop for Garda Units responding to an attempted burglary at a house in the Ardee area of Co Louth shortly after midnight. (extra.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened in the Swords area at around 10pm on Wednesday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe van was stolen from a house in Swords at around 10pm. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe van was intercepted on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe burglary in Swords occurred at approximately 10pm on Wednesday 22 September 2021 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe attempted burglary in Ardee occurred shortly after midnight (garda.ie)
  • investigationBoth men are detained for questioning at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (extra.ie)
  • investigationBoth men are detained for questioning at Coolock garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí described the operation as a lengthy managed containment operation. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí carried out a managed containment operation. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe van was intercepted outside Swords by members of the Armed Support Unit. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe men are detained for questioning at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA Garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA lengthy managed containment operation preceded the interception (garda.ie)
  • investigationBoth men are detained at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is ongoing (garda.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationA lengthy and managed containment operation took place. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationBoth men are detained at Coolock Garda Station for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe men were taken to Coolock Garda Station. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe two men were aged in their 20s and 30s. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Sep2021
    Arresteddundalkdemocrat.ie, its first report
    Two men arrested following burglaries in Ardee and Swords last night

    First report of the arrests and the connected burglaries in Swords and Ardee.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  2. 23 Sep2021
    Arrestedgarda.ie, its first report
    Two Arrested following Burglary Incidents in County Dublin and Louth 22nd - 23rd September 2021

    Confirms the ASU intercepted the van on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am following a lengthy managed containment operation, and that both men are detained at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  3. 23 Sep2021
    Arrestedthejournal.ie, its first report
    Two arrested in connection with burglaries after stolen van intercepted on outskirts of Dublin

    Adds that the van was intercepted by the Armed Support Unit outside Swords after a managed containment operation, and that the two men are detained at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  4. 23 Sep2021
    Arrestedrte.ie, its first report
    Two arrested after burglaries in Dublin and Louth

    Confirms the ASU intercepted the van on the outskirts of Swords at around 2am following a 'lengthy managed containment operation' and that the two men were taken to Coolock Garda Station.

    suspect, malesuspect, male
  5. 23 Sep2021
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Armed gardai stop stolen van in dramatic operation after late-night burglaries

    Confirms the van was 'taken in the course of a burglary,' describes the ASU interception as a 'lengthy managed containment operation,' and states both men are detained at Coolock garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  6. 23 Sep2021
    Arrestedextra.ie, first report
    Garda car chase across two counties results in two arrests - Extra.ie

    Provides details of the car chase: the van was intercepted on the outskirts of Swords shortly after 2am by ASU after a lengthy managed containment operation; both men detained at Coolock Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male