Lithuanian Man Pleads Guilty to Galway Mosque Terror Plot
Karolis Peckauskas, 39, pleaded guilty to a terror plot to burn the Maryam Mosque in Galway, an act aggravated by hatred. Two co-accused also pleaded guilty, with a fourth man still charged. Peckauskas faces additional charges for weapons and explosives possession.
Karolis Peckauskas, 39, of Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to attempting to engage in terrorist activity between November 4 and 5, 2025. He attempted to damage by fire the Maryam Mosque in Galway, an offense aggravated by hatred.
His co-accused, Darren Gorman, 33, of O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and Garrett Pollock, 35, of Kilhorne Greene, Annalong, Co Down, pleaded guilty to the same offense on June 8. A fourth man, Charles Flynn, 35, of Castlerock Avenue, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, remains charged, with his case mentioned on July 20. Peckauskas, Gorman, and Pollock will return for a sentence hearing on October 5.
Peckauskas also faces charges for possessing two hatchets, a knuckle duster, and a hunting knife in a silver BMW at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, on November 4, 2025. He is further charged with possessing an explosive substance (four threaded pipe end caps and six liters of hydrogen peroxide) on the same date. A stay is on his prosecution for the explosives charge pending a High Court judgment on his claim that the Explosives Act's wording prevents a fair trial.