'Potential for progress' for four men charged with terrorist plot to attack Galway mosque

Garrett Pollock (left) and Karolis Peckauskas (right). Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.

Lawyers for four men accused of a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque have indicated that there is "potential for progress" ahead of their trials.

The Director of Public Prosecutions served papers on Monday morning on each of the four explaining that their trials will be heard before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court.

The four accused are Darren Gorman (aged 33), O’Moore Place, Portlaoise Co Laois; Charles Flynn (aged 35), Castlerock Avenue, Castleconnell, Co Limerick; Garrett Pollock (aged 35), Kilhorne Greene, Annalong, Co Down; and Karolis Peckauskas (aged 38), Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth.

They are each charged with attempting to engage in a terrorist activity or a terrorist-linked activity to damage by fire Maryam Mosque, Old Cottages, Monivea Road, Galway, intending to damage or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged, an offence which was aggravated by hatred, between November 4 and 5, 2025.

Mr Peckauskas and Mr Pollock are also accused of having two hatchets, a knuckle duster and a hunting knife in a silver BMW at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise on November 4, 2025 contrary to Section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Mr Peckauskas and Mr Pollock are further charged with possession an explosive substance — four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide — under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that they did not have it in their possession for a lawful object at O’Moore Place on November 4 that year.

Mr Pollock is also charged with possessing an explosive substance under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he didn’t have it in his possession for a lawful object at An Tobar, Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, on the same date.

Lawyers for each accused told the court on Monday that there is "potential for progress" when they come before the court again next month.

Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, presiding, remanded each accused until that date.