Laois man accused of links with violent extremist far-right group

A LAOIS man along with three others with alleged links to a violent extremist far-right group appeared before Portlaoise District Court yesterday Thursday 19 March accused of attempting to engage in a terrorist attack on a mosque.

The four men identified themselves, in a video seized by gardaí, as being members of the Irish Defence Army (IDA) with alleged plans to carry out attacks on Muslims, asylum seekers and anyone who helped to erect or operate an International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre.

Darren Gorman from 6 O’Moore Place, Portlaoise and Charles Flynn (35) from 3 Castlerock Avenue, Castleconnell, Limerick are charged that on 4 and 5 November 2025 they attempted to engage in a terrorist activity or a terrorist-linked activity to damage Maryam Mosque, Old Cottages, Monivea Road, Galway by fire on 4 November 2025.

Garrett Pollock (35) from 12 Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co Down and Karolis Peckauskas (38) from An Tobar, 37 Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth also faced the same charge, as well as possessing a hunting knife, knuckle duster and two hatchets at O’Moore Place on November 4, 2025.

While Mr Pollock and Mr Peckauskas are also charged with possessing an explosive substance in a van at An Tobar, Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth on November 4.

Mr Pollock was further charged with possessing “an explosive substance” described by gardaí as “EMCG1, a glass jar with a metal lid, a cloth fuse, matches and tape, in addition to EMGC5-EMCG10 liquids and white clumped powders, all containing hydrocarbon fire accelerants namely petrol”.

Mr Gorman, Mr Pollock and Mr Flynn applied for bail to which gardaí objected to.

The court heard that during their investigations gardaí seized several mobile phones. One obtained, contained three video recording which gardaí said was recorded in Mr O’Gorman’s kitchen in O’Moore Place on 4 November.

On it four men can be seen wearing balaclavas, with the Irish Tricolour draped behind them as they read out a statement.

The video played in court showed two of the men allegedly talk of attacking what they described as Ireland's first mosque in Galway and of their intentions to carry out further attacks on other mosques, IPAS centres and anyone who assists and supports them. They also said that the alleged attack on the mosque will “not be their last attack” and described their philosophy as an “eye for an eye.” 

Judge Cody said that the defendants come before the court innocent men who are entitled to the presumption of innocence. He said he had considered the evidence of the gardaí and the submissions of the barristers representing the accused.

He said he heard garda evidence that Mr Pollock and Mr Peckauskas were allegedly in a car when members of the drugs unit attached to Portlaoise Garda Station stopped and searched it on 4 November 2025 at O’Moore Place Portlaoise and allegedly found four threaded pipe end caps, five bottles of hydrogen peroxide, plumbers’ putty and suspicious documents. They also gave evidence of the seizure of devices and of documents which strongly indicate that they were allegedly involved in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and that they were allegedly planning a terrorist attack on behalf of the IDA described as a right-wing violent extremist grouping.

He said that evidence was also given by gardaí that a manifesto was recovered from the boot of the vehicle outlining the intent to allegedly commit a terrorist offence. Two black balaclavas were also recovered from the boot of the car on which it is alleged that DNA of Mr Gorman and Mr Pollock were recovered.

Judge Cody said: “All four were wearing balaclavas although they all remove the balaclavas towards the end of the video. I am satisfied that the gardaí’s opinion that these three accused (Mr Gorman, Pollock and Flynn) appear in this video is well-founded. It is apparent that the video is a practice of a statement to be released subsequent to a successful terrorist attack.

“In this statement which is addressed to all citizens in the North and South of Ireland they say that they are taking a moment to speak honestly and directly recognising that everyone in the country has had enough of the poor treatment particularly of children, women and the elderly who have been left homeless starving, cold and under threat due to the number of migrants that have been brought into the country by our government. They describe this as a threat to our sovereignty and could potentially be a hostile takeover.

“They then say that they accept responsibility for the actions that has resulted in the destruction of the first mosque that was introduced in Ireland in County Galway. They say that they accept that this would have caused a lot of hurt disappointment and destruction for foreign migrants both the legal and illegal in the community that they do not care. They say that this will not be their last attack.” 

Judge Cody said that the court acknowledged that the accused come before it as innocent men and that presumption of innocence will always remain until conviction.

He said after hearing the evidence from gardaí, submissions from the accused barristers and considering the seriousness of the charges, he was refusing bail and remanded all four accused in custody to Monday’s 23 March sitting of Portlaoise District Court which will be conducted via video link.

Judge Cody placed reporting restrictions on naming any of the gardaí involved in the investigation after being informed that several days after the first court appearance of two of the men gardaí had received intelligence that the address of one of the investing members had been sought by members of the IDA.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.