Man accused of causing extensive damage to Athlone Garda Station sent forward for trial

A man charged with causing tens of thousands of euros worth of damage to Athlone Garda Station and a number of patrol vehicles parked outside has been sent forward for trial before Mullingar Circuit Court.

Garda Sean Bohan gave evidence to Judge Susan Fay of serving the book of evidence on Adil Muhammad (38), of no fixed abode, before a sitting of Athlone District Court on Wednesday morning.

The accused was sent forward to the next sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, charged with criminal damage to the Garda Station and two vehicles in January of this year.

Those charges relate to January 25, 2026, at Athlone Garda Station, Barrack Street, Athlone, where it is alleged he caused damage to a white Hyundai Kona patrol car belonging to An Garda Síochána by smashing a beer keg through the back windscreen of the vehicle.

Further charges relate to the smashing of the windscreen of a Garda patrol van with the same beer keg, and damage to the front doors, granite counter top and glass window of the front office of the Garda station, again with a beer keg.

An estimate of the cost of the damage caused to the Garda Station itself came in at just under €23,000.

Mr Muhammad was given an alibi warning and legal aid was granted for his solicitor, Mark Cooney, and two counsel in circumstances where a detailed psychiatric report outlined a “very serious mental illness”.

He will reappear before Mullingar Circuit Court on May 7.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme