Saturday 31 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. 19331Organised criminal activity (charges not specified) · Co. Limerick · 24 Oct 2023

Two men charged after garda operation targeting organised crime in Limerick

Gardaí ran an operation targeting organised criminal activity in County Limerick on Tuesday 24 October 2023, with searches at locations in Limerick, Cork and Clare. It followed garda investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier in 2023 involving rival groups in a feud on the city's south side, and sources give the arrest total as eight, with five men and three women arrested on Tuesday. The suspects' nationalities are not stated, and no victim is named in the reports. Three women and two men were charged, and another man was charged with separate road traffic offences; a juvenile was arrested on Thursday 26 October as a ninth person. The latest report, dated 28 October, says the two men charged are due at a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastle West on Saturday 28 October at 4pm, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested26 Oct
  3. Charged25 Oct
    4 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Five men and three women were arrested on Tuesday 24 October in coordinated raids in Limerick, Clare and Cork.
  • Sources give the total as eight arrests, and one later report counts nine after a juvenile was arrested on Thursday 26 October.
  • Cash of over €11,310, about €53,100 of suspected cocaine, €20,000 of suspected cannabis and €4,650 of suspected alprazolam and controlled medication tablets were seized.
Weapon
  • Four suspected firearms and ammunition were seized, and a suspicious device found in a field was confirmed to be a viable explosive.
  • Army EOD was requested to make the suspicious device safe, and a controlled explosion was carried out.
Where
Searches were carried out at locations in Limerick, Cork and Clare.
When
The operation took place on the evening of Tuesday 24 October 2023.
Cause
The operation followed garda investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier in 2023 involving rival groups in a feud on the city's south side.
Investigation
  • Five men were arrested under the Criminal Law Act 1997 and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, and four remained in custody when the first report was published.
  • A juvenile was arrested on Thursday 26 October and detained at a Limerick garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
  • All seized evidence will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for examination, and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
  • Two men arrested on 24 October were charged, and three women arrested on Tuesday were charged with offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
  • A fifth man was released from detention and charged with separate road traffic offences.
In court
  • The three women appeared before Limerick District Court on Tuesday afternoon.
  • One report said the two men were due in court on Thursday 26 October shortly after 10.30, while a later report says both men are due before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastle West on Saturday 28 October at 4pm.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOver €11,310 in cash was seized. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatApproximately €53,100 of suspected cocaine was seized. (limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSuspected cannabis worth €20,000 was seized. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatEight people were arrested in a major garda operation targeting organised crime in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatCash in excess of €11,310 was seized. (limerickleader.ie)
  • what€20,000 of suspected cannabis was seized. (limerickleader.ie)
  • what€4,650 of suspected alprazolam and controlled medication tablets was seized. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí have arrested a ninth person as part of a major operation targeting organised crime in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatFive men and three women were arrested on Tuesday in coordinated raids in Limerick, Clare and Cork. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe arrests followed an operation targeting organised crime in Limerick city. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereSearches were conducted at locations in Limerick, Cork and Clare. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe searches were carried out at locations in Limerick, Cork and Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe arrests followed an operation targeting organised criminal activity in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Tuesday evening. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe searches were conducted on Tuesday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenA juvenile was arrested on Thursday morning. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenTwo men were arrested in Limerick on Tuesday, 24 October 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe two men were arrested on Tuesday, 24 October. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe operation followed garda investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier this year. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponFour suspected firearms and ammunition were seized. (limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponA suspicious device found in a field was confirmed to be a viable explosive. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targeted organised criminal activity in County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe Army EOD Unit was requested to make the suspicious device safe, and a controlled explosion was carried out. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationAll seized evidence will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further examination. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationAll seized evidence will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for examination. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationFive men were arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe juvenile is detained at a garda station in Limerick under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationArmy EOD was requested to make safe a suspicious device found during a search of a field in the Limerick area. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe other two men arrested on Tuesday remain detained under section 50 at garda stations in the Limerick region. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationTwo other men arrested in the same operation remain in Garda custody under Section 50. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationA teenage juvenile arrested on the morning of 26 October is in custody under Section 50. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are still ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeA fifth man was released from detention and charged with separate road traffic offences. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeThree women were also arrested and charged on Tuesday. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeOne of the men was released from detention and charged with separate road traffic offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThree women were arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeTwo of the men have now been charged and will appear before Limerick District Court later. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeTwo of the men arrested have been charged. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeBoth men have been charged. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThat man was due to appear before Limerick District Court later that Wednesday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe three women appeared before Limerick District Court on Tuesday afternoon. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe two men were due to appear in court on Thursday shortly after 10.30. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtBoth men are due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastle West on Saturday, 28 October at 4pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFive men were arrested under the Criminal Law Act, 1997 and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherFour of the men remained in custody. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherA suspicious device found in a field in the Limerick area was made safe by a controlled explosion and found to be a viable explosive. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFour men remained in custody at the time of the report. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFour firearms, €11,310 in cash and significant quantities of cocaine, cannabis and other prescribed medications were seized. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Oct2023
    Chargedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Two men to appear in court in relation to major garda operation in Limerick

    Reports that two men arrested in an organised crime operation have been charged and are due in court on 28 October 2023. No names, charges or other case details are given. A sidebar mention of nine arrests in separate raids is not included.

    accused, maleaccused, male
  2. 26 Oct2023
    Chargedlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Two men to appear in court over Limerick organised crime operation

    Confirms that the two men arrested on 24 October have been charged and will appear in court on 26 October. Adds that two other men and a teenage juvenile are in custody under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, and that investigations are still ongoing. No names, ages or charges are given.

    accused, maleaccused, male
  3. 26 Oct2023
    Arrestedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Ninth arrest as part of major garda operation targeting organised crime in Limerick

    Reports a ninth arrest, a juvenile detained on Thursday 26 October 2023 under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. Adds that five men and three women were arrested on Tuesday in raids in Limerick, Clare and Cork, that four firearms, €11,310 in cash and drugs were seized, that Army EOD was called to a suspicious device, and that two of the men have been charged.

    suspectaccused, maleaccused, male
  4. 25 Oct2023
    Chargedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Cash, firearms and drugs seized as eight arrested in major garda operation in Limerick

    Adds the seizure amounts (over €11,310 cash, about €53,100 cocaine, €20,000 cannabis, €4,650 alprazolam and medication tablets), four suspected firearms and ammunition, a suspicious device found in a field that proved to be a viable explosive, the breakdown of five men and three women arrested, one man charged with road traffic offences, four men still in custody, and the women's appearance before Limerick District Court.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, maleaccused, malesuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, female
  5. 25 Oct2023
    Chargedlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Limerick Gardaí arrest five men in connection with guns, pipe bomb, drugs and cash find

    Adds details of the pipe bomb find and army EOD controlled explosion, the firearms and cash seizures, the five men arrested, the three women charged, and that four men remained in custody.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, maleaccused, femaleaccused, femaleaccused, female