Ireland Two men charged over organised crime operation in Limerick
A major garda operation targeting organised criminal activity in Limerick, following investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier in the year, led to coordinated raids in Limerick, Cork and Clare on 24 October 2023. Five men and three women were arrested, and a male teenage juvenile was arrested on 26 October, bringing the total to nine. Seizures included over €11,310 in cash, approximately €53,100 of suspected cocaine, €20,000 of suspected cannabis, four suspected firearms and a viable explosive device. Three women were charged with public order offences and one man with road traffic offences, while the last two men detained were charged on 28 October and are due before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastle West.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested26 Oct
- Charged24 Oct
6 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Eight people were arrested in a major garda operation targeting organised criminal activity in Limerick, with a ninth person, a male teenage juvenile, arrested on 26 October 2023.
- Over €11,310 in cash, approximately €53,100 of suspected cocaine, €20,000 of suspected cannabis and €4,650 of suspected alprazolam and controlled medication tablets were seized.
- Where
- Coordinated searches were conducted at locations in Limerick, Cork and Clare.
- When
- The operation took place on Tuesday 24 October 2023, with the juvenile arrested on Thursday 26 October 2023.
- Cause
- The operation followed garda investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier in the year.
- Weapon
- Four suspected firearms and ammunition were seized, and a suspicious device found in a field was confirmed to be a viable explosive after a controlled explosion by the Army EOD Unit.
- Charges
- Three women were charged with offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, and one man was charged with separate road traffic offences.
- Two men were charged on 26 October, and the last two men detained were charged on 28 October.
- In court
- The three women appeared before Limerick District Court on 24 October, and the last two charged men are due before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastle West on 28 October 2023 at 4pm.
- Investigation
- Investigations are ongoing, and all seized evidence will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for examination.
- Other details
- Five men were arrested under the Criminal Law Act, 1997 and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
60 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)
- whereThe operation targeted organised criminal activity in Co Limerick. (garda.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 operation took place in County Limerick. (garda.ie)
- whereThe arrests followed an operation targeting organised criminal activity in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe men were arrested on Tuesday 24 October 2023. (garda.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 operation took place on Tuesday, 24 October 2023. (garda.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)
- causeThe operation targeted organised criminal activity. (garda.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)
- investigationTwo other men arrested on 24 October remain detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationA male teenage juvenile was arrested on 26 October 2023 in relation to the investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, limerickleader.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)
- 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)
- chargeGardaí charged two of the men arrested on 24 October. (garda.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)
- chargeThe last two men detained by gardaí have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeBoth men have been charged. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe two charged men were due before Limerick District Court on the morning of 26 October 2023. (garda.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 before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at Newcastlewest on Saturday 28 October 2023 at 4pm. (garda.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- 28 Oct2023Two 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 - 28 Oct2023Court Appearance and Update: Operation Targeting Organised Criminal Activity in Limerick, 28th October 2023
Garda press release confirming that the last two men detained in the Limerick operation have been charged and set out their court date. The offences charged are not stated.
accused, maleaccused, male - 26 Oct2023Two 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 - 26 Oct2023Ninth 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 - 25 Oct2023Cash, 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 - 25 Oct2023Limerick 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 - 24 Oct2023Court Appearance and Update: Operation Targeting Organised Criminal Activity in Limerick, 24th October 2023
Adds that the two charged men were due before Limerick District Court on 26 October 2023, that a male teenage juvenile was arrested on 26 October, and that two other men arrested on 24 October remain detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
accused, maleaccused, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, teenage, male