A knife, a replica gun, a 'murder weapon': Some of the things people try to smuggle into courts

In April, 'a small knife in a rigid plastic bag' was discovered in the Criminal Courts of Justice. File picture

A knife in a plastic bag was found stashed inside a courtroom while another person tried to smuggle a replica handgun into the criminal courts.

In another bizarre case, a member of the public tried to bring a “murder weapon” through a security screen saying they planned to hand it to gardaí as evidence.

A log of Courts Service incidents and accidents for 2024 also disclosed how another person tried to bring a “large wrench tool” through a scanner. When they were told it would have to be left at the entrance gate, the person became “verbally abusive” and gardaí had to be called.

In April, “a small knife in a rigid plastic bag” was discovered in the Criminal Courts of Justice with an investigation taking place. It was later said it could not be determined with any certainty who had brought the weapon into the building.

The log of incidents detailed the discovery last March of an Airsoft pistol inside a backpack from a person trying to get into the courts. The replica weapon was confiscated with gardaí called and the owner later told the item would not be returned to them.

In another case last summer, the legal representative of a high security prisoner at Portlaoise was attacked by their own client. The two of them were discussing the case when the lawyer “stumbled out of the holding cell having been physically assaulted". 

In another incident, there was a fire alert after an alarm was activated in a holding cell beneath the Criminal Courts of Justice. However, on further investigation it turned out to be a prison officer who was vaping.

In County Clare, a conspiracy theorist approached an official saying the courthouse was being used for “trafficking of children or for sexual abuse”. 

A caretaker came to help and got attacked as the court official was grabbed by the hair and was left “bent over screaming.” Gardaí came running to intervene and managed to place the person under arrest.

During November, there was a brazen incident where a person placed their wallet and personal belongings on a tray for security screening. However, after it passed through, a thief made off with their coat and wallet as gardaí tried in vain to track down the person responsible.