The Special Criminal Court has heard that a would-be mosque bomber has been diagnosed with “extreme submissiveness”.
A three-judge panel heard pleas in mitigation for the three accused men, two of whom were brought from custody.
35-year-old Garrett Pollock of Kilhorne Greene, Annalong, Co Down, 34-year-old Darren Gorman of O’Moore Place in Portlaoise, and 39-year-old Karolis Peckauskas with an address at Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in a terrorist activity, namely damaging by fire the Maryam Mosque on the Monivea Road in Galway, between 4 and 5 November 2025.
Detective Inspector McDevitt told the panel of judges that Pollock and Pekauskas were stopped driving in a BMW by a Garda Drugs Unit in Portlaoise at 11.08 pm on November 4th 2025.
Items found in the BMW were components of an improvised explosive device, he said. Items, including pipe end caps and sealants, were recovered from the car while a van parked near the home of Peckaukas in Louth was found to contain four improvised incendiary devices.
He said he believed the men were preparing devices on the night in question, and that the IEDs were to be used in conjunction with the pipe bombs, although there was no solid date set for the planned attack; however, the court heard that the group were conducting “advanced planning preparations”.
When Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, leading the panel of judges, probed the inspector for details about the mosque itself, he described it as being in a densely populated area, close to new apartment blocks, residential housing and a busy road.
The court heard it is a place of worship with set prayer times, and people can enter at any time using a keypad. A community hall is attached. There are also 10 houses on the site which are used by the Imam and other members of the Ahmadi Muslim group, of whom there are 150-200 members in the area.
Counsel for the DPP, Edward Doocey BL, said the offences were contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, “aggravated by hatred” under the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024, section 3d, which he said was somewhat “analogous” to Section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act.
Kevin White SC, for Pollock, said the offences were “undoubtedly very serious”, involved planning, and had clear expressions of intent. He accepted they were deeply offensive and frightening to the Islamic community and to “most people in Ireland”, although he conceded that the viewpoints might garner sympathy from those participating in the “ICA” group chat. (Irish Citizens Army).
He said that said more than 1,000 people were in the “ICA” and that the accused men had no knowledge or training on how to undertake the planned offences, and were not “forensically aware” but had tried to “educate themselves|.
Pollock now considered his offending “deeply shameful” and wished to “apologise unreservedly”.
Citing a report by Dr Lamb, counsel asked how someone with no prior history of this behaviour, and who had never even attended an IPAS protest, came to be before the court on such a serious offence.
Pollock grew up in a dysfunctional, financially struggling household and was disruptive at school, the court heard. He had sporadic employment, worked as a gym instructor, and met his partner at 17. He has joint custody of two girls, is sole guardian of both, and has a son with a different woman.
Mr White described a ” toxic” relationship with a third woman, which led to his client using cocaine and other substances and losing his job.
The court heard that Pollock then spent hours online at night, scrolling fitness content and also radical content, including videos alleging threats by immigrants and sexual assaults committed by immigrants, before being drawn to the group. Counsel said he found a sense of belonging in being “wanted and respected” and wanted to show the group he was committed.
He said his client has since stated that he “would not have had the courage to go through with it”, the court heard.
Mr White said that said men’s health and fitness material appeared to attract “nationalist content”, and that Pollock was not motivated by any “robust ideological principle”.
The gym where he worked has Muslim members, and he was courteous to all, the court heard. He answered all questions in six interviews and is in custody in this jurisdiction, though from Northern Ireland. He apologised for the effect of his actions on everyone, including his own family.
Counsel for Gorman, Marc Thompson SC, said his client had been on bail for a long time with full compliance and no issues. A psychological report was referred to, which identified “extreme submissiveness” and vulnerability.
The court heard that a senator who knew him had seen “how vulnerable he was” and was concerned he could be exploited by “far-right-leaning individuals”.
Gorman has “no history of violence, hatred or terrorism”, and all who know him expressed surprise at his guilty plea to the single offence he faces.
Mr Thompson said that when Gardaí stopped the BMW they had no suspicion he was involved and arrested him only after the senator made a call and inquiries were made.
Nothing of evidential value was found in searches of his personal belongings. He was not an administrator of the group, and there was no evidence placing him on the same level of offending as the others, he said.
Mr Thompson said Gorman “is not just a drug user but an addict”, with “mental health difficulties”. These, he said, did not remove his responsibility, but they bore on the level of that responsibility and the likelihood of reoffending. He is a father of four with no previous convictions.
The court heard that Goram was placed on the medium to high range of reoffending risk should he come into future contact with radicalised individuals or consume drugs.
Having heard the pleas in mitigation, the court adjourned sentencing until the 30th of October, with all three accused remanded in custody.
The pleas in respect of Karolis Peckauskas were heard on the previous date.