A 34-year-old man is due before a special court sitting in Cork on Sunday after an alleged attempt to take control of a Dublin-Cork bus at gunpoint. The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday as the private coach approached the Watergrasshill toll area on the N8.
The man, described as being from Belfast, was travelling on a Citylink service from Dublin Airport to Cork when he allegedly approached the driver and produced what appeared to be a handgun. Gardaí later received directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge him in connection with firearm offences.
What happened on the Dublin-Cork bus?
The coach left Dublin Airport at approximately 1am on Saturday. At around 3.30am, as it neared the toll booth at Watergrasshill in north Co Cork, the passenger allegedly threatened the driver and demanded that the journey continue.
It is understood that he did not name a particular destination. There were 10 passengers on board at the time of the alleged incident.
According to the information available, two passengers intervened and managed to overpower the man. They disarmed him of what appeared to be a gun and also removed a knife that he was allegedly carrying.
Driver contacted Gardaí
The driver contacted An Garda Síochána after the alleged confrontation. He subsequently stopped the coach near the toll area, where officers arrested the man.
The suspect was brought to Fermoy Garda station for questioning. The arrest related to the alleged possession of a firearm and the attempted hijacking of the bus.
Man detained under Section 30 legislation
The man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. That provision allows a person suspected of certain firearm offences to be held for up to 72 hours for questioning.
Gardaí received directions from the DPP on Saturday night to charge the man with firearm offences. He is expected to appear before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Sunday.
At this stage, the allegations have not been tested in court. The accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty.
Investigation into alleged firearm offences
The case is being handled as a serious Garda investigation involving an alleged weapon, threats to a driver and an attempted seizure of a public passenger service. The reported intervention by passengers brought the incident to an end before the coach continued its journey.
The court appearance is expected to establish the charges formally and deal with any application arising from the prosecution. Further details will depend on the proceedings and on information that can properly be given before the court.
What happens next?
- The accused is due to appear at a special court sitting in Cork on Sunday.
- The firearm-related charges will be formally addressed before the court.
- The prosecution may seek directions regarding the next stage of the case.
- Any evidence and disputed claims will be considered through the criminal justice process.
This case remains at an early stage. While the alleged incident caused serious concern on a long-distance route between Dublin and Cork, the available details describe an arrest and charge direction rather than a completed court determination.
Key takeaway
The 34-year-old man is due in court following an alleged attempt to hijack a Dublin-Cork bus near Watergrasshill, where passengers reportedly intervened after a weapon was produced. The case now moves into the court process, with the allegations yet to be tested.
