Three men who admitted planning a firebomb attack on the Maryam Mosque in Galway in November 2025 have been sentenced at Ireland’s Special Criminal Court. The court heard that the planned attack, an offence aggravated by hatred, was intended to be the first of several targeting immigrants and people providing accommodation for asylum seekers.
Garrett Pollock received ten and a half years, while Darren Gorman and Karolis Peckauskas each received eight years. Pollock also pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance found in four glass jars concealed in his van, RTÉ reported.
The men belonged to a group calling itself the Irish Defence Army. Detective Inspector Alan Devitt of the Special Detective Unit described it to the court as a violent right-wing extremist organisation that had splintered from an online group and communicated through Signal.
Police stopped the men by chance on 4 November 2025, after they had travelled to Gorman’s home in Portlaoise. Officers seized weapons, masks, tactical equipment and chemicals that could be used to make explosives. Messages showed planning, discussions about constructing devices and surveillance of accommodation for people seeking international protection before the mosque became a target.
The group recorded a video in Gorman’s kitchen claiming responsibility for the attack before carrying it out. The footage showed masked men in tactical clothing in front of an Irish flag, threatening further attacks against mosques, asylum accommodation and those helping to provide them. It was intended for distribution to broadcasters and newspapers.
Pollock devised the organisation’s name, oath and public statement, designed its crest and administered its messaging group. Gorman provided the filming location, sourced a chemical, contributed money and conducted surveillance. Peckauskas supplied transport, helped establish the group’s identity and participated in constructing incendiary devices.
Defence lawyers described personal vulnerabilities and online radicalisation. Pollock’s counsel said he had been misusing alcohol and cocaine and had found a sense of belonging in smaller online groups. A doctor who assessed him linked his conduct to emotional dysfunction, low self-esteem and isolation rather than a firmly held ideology.
Peckauskas’s lawyer said social media had drawn him into conspiracy theories during Covid. A Lithuanian national, he apologised to mosque-goers in Ireland. Pollock also apologised and submitted a letter expressing remorse and shame. Gorman’s counsel cited addiction, mental health difficulties and a psychological report describing submissiveness and vulnerability, saying he had no history of violence, hatred or terrorism.
Justice Caroline Biggs said deterrence had to weigh strongly in sentencing and rejected any suggestion that the defendants had merely peripheral roles. “There are no passive members of this group in this case,” she said.
The judge said the men had chosen their course without coercion and that police intervention, rather than any lack of effort by the defendants, had prevented the attack. “This was not born out of patriotism.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case involved preparations for an attack on a place of worship, alongside threats against people providing accommodation for asylum seekers.
- The court treated the defendants’ individual contributions as active participation, while also hearing evidence about addiction, vulnerability and online radicalisation.
Background
Terrorism prosecutions can concern preparations for an attack even when police prevent it from taking place. In this case, the guilty pleas covered attempted terrorist activity aggravated by hatred. The sentencing hearing addressed both the planned harm and the circumstances of each defendant.
Key Perspectives
Justice Caroline Biggs: Said the plot involved deliberate, organised participation and that deterrence must feature strongly in sentencing.
Defence lawyers: Presented online radicalisation, psychological vulnerabilities and addiction as relevant to the defendants’ conduct, alongside apologies and expressions of remorse.
What to Watch
- The implementation of the prison sentences, each of which includes a suspended final year.
- Whether the pathways into online radicalisation described in court inform prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedThree men were jailed over a plot to bomb a Galway mosque.RTÉ News: “Three men who were part of a self-styled terrorist organisation that planned to blow up a mosque in Galway last year have been jailed at the Special Criminal Court”
- SupportedThe sentences were up to ten and a half years, with the final year of each sentence suspended.RTÉ News: “35-year-old Garrett Pollock of Kilhorne Greene, Annalong, Co Down was sentenced to ten and a half years with the last year suspended. 34-year-old Darren Gorman of O'Moore Place in Portlaoise was sentenced eight years with the last year suspended and 39-year-old Karolis Peckauskas with an address at Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth was sentenced to eight years in prison with the last year suspended.”
- SupportedThe three men admitted planning a firebomb attack on the Maryam Mosque in Galway in November 2025.RTÉ News: “All three pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in a terrorist activity, to firebomb the Maryam Mosque on the Monivea Road in Galway between 4 and 5 November 2025, an offence aggravated by hatred.”
- SupportedThe planned attack was intended to be the first of several, targeting immigrants and people involved in providing accommodation for asylum seekers.RTÉ News: “She also said it was clear this was to be the first of many attacks and everyone was to get trained up in making the bombs.”
- SupportedPollock also pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance found in four glass jars concealed in his van.RTÉ News: “Pollock also pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive substance which was found in four glass jars concealed in a hidden drawer in his van on 4 November 2025.”
- SupportedDetective Inspector Alan Devitt described the Irish Defence Army as a violent right-wing extremist group that splintered from an online group and communicated through Signal.RTÉ News: “They were part of the self-style Irish Defence Army, which detective inspector Alan Devitt of the Special Detective Unit outlined to the court was a violent right wing extremist group, a splinter of the online Irish Citizens Army which communicated on the messaging app Signal.”
- SupportedThe men were stopped by chance on 4 November 2025 after travelling to Gorman’s home in Portlaoise.RTÉ News: “Garrett Pollock had driven to Drogheda in his van on Tuesday 4 November 2025 and met up with Peckhauskas who drove them both to Gorman's house in Portlaoise. They were stopped by chance later that night and arrested by the Laois drugs unit.”
- SupportedThe men recorded a video claiming responsibility for the attack before it took place.RTÉ News: “The men also filmed themselves taking responsibility for the attack before it had taken place.”
- SupportedThe video was intended for distribution to broadcasters and newspapers.RTÉ News: “The video was to be sent to RTÉ, TG4 and local newspapers.”
- SupportedJustice Caroline Biggs said, “There are no passive members of this group in this case.”RTÉ News: ““There are no passive members of this group in this case,” she said.”
- SupportedJustice Caroline Biggs said, “This was not born out of patriotism.”RTÉ News: ““What was intended were acts of hooliganism and thuggery for status. This was not born out of patriotism.””