Gardaí believed Mosque terror attack was 'imminent', Laois Court told

A bail hearing was told Gardaí believed a terror attack was “imminent” prior to the arrest of a man in Portlaoise last week. 

Karolis Peckauskas (38) of An Tobar, 37 Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, faces one charge of “possession of an explosive substance, to wit four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide” at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.  

He applied for bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court where Detective Garda Joseph Fahy objected on behalf of the State. 

Det Fahy said the defendant was stopped and searched in an 08D registered car at O’Moore Place on November 4. He said the defendant owned the car and items including hydrogen peroxide, pipe end caps and plumbers putty were found in his car. 

Det Fahy said a manifesto and a video were discovered during the search which indicated knowledge of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and suggested involvement of a “right wing violent extremist group” and the “planning of a terrorist attack” on behalf of a right wing group. He said the video indicated an intention to carry out a violent action and he was concerned the defendant wouldn’t answer bail as he had family in Lithuania.  

He said gardaí believe the defendant “is a member of a right wing violent extremist group” and are objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the allegations.   

Niall Storan BL said there was a sole charge before the court in relation to his client. He said his client had lived in Ireland since 2006 and his father has been here for 30 years. Mr Storan said the man has a brother and niece in Ireland and is engaged to a Latvian woman who has lived in Ireland for 20 years. 

Det Fahy said hydrogen peroxide is known to be used in the production of IEDs. 

Mr Storan said "hydrogen peroxide could be used for any number of things”. 

Det Fahy said “a manifesto document outlining an intention to attack a mosque” was also found in the car. 

“We believed that there was an attack imminent in relation to that mosque,” said Det Fahy. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said “we would have a serious, serious, objection to bail” and he said there was a video available to the court. 

Mr Storan strongly objected to the inclusion of the video and said the recording hadn’t been disclosed to him and he didn’t see the relevance of it. 

Sgt Kirby said “I think it is one of the essential ingredients” of the State’s case. “I would urge you to look at it but in the interest of the security of the State, I would say that it should be in camera.” 

Mr Storan said the case related to items found in a car and whether they were for use to make “pipe bombs”. He said his client, who was aided by an interpreter and had members of his family in court, was in a position to provide an independent surety of €20,000, if given time. Mr Storan said there was no evidence that his client would commit serious offences if granted bail. He pointed out that there was “no charge in relation to conspiracy to commit any offences.” 

Sgt Kirby said the evidence is very strong and it suggests “there is documents planning a terrorist attack on behalf of a right wing extremist group”. He said the investigation is at an early stage and there may be further charges. 

Judge Cody said he wanted to look at the video with counsel for the accused. The court was then cleared and the video was played. 

When court resumed, Judge Cody said the video showed a group of four men and “two men read a typed and prepared statement”. 

He said he believed the evidence of Garda Fahy who believed “one of those persons in that video was the accused”. 

Judge Cody said the men in the video were joking and laughing in the video and it was clear that it was “practice” for a statement and not an actual statement to be issued. 

The video was addressed “to all citizens North and South of Ireland” and stated that they were speaking “honestly and directly” recognising that everyone in the country had enough of “poor treatment particularly children, women and the elderly” who had been left “homeless” starving and “under threat” due to the number of migrants brought to the country by the government. 

“They identified themselves as the IDA or the Irish Defence Army,” said Judge Cody. 

He explained that the group said they were taking responsibility for the destruction of the first Mosque in Ireland which was based in Galway. 

“They say that this will not be their last attack and that their approach will be an eye for an eye,” he said. They then say they intend to target IPAS centres, Mosques and hotels housing migrants. 

Judge Cody said he was accepting Garda Fahy’s evidence and that he was satisfied to refuse bail. He remanded the defendant in custody to appear again via video link before Portlaoise District Court on December 11.