Man Due in Court After €20,000 in Cash Thrown at Motorists in Galway
A 36-year-old man from County Kerry is facing seven criminal charges after he was arrested in Galway city following a bizarre incident in which more than €20,000 in cash was thrown at passing motorists — money that Gardaí believe was stolen from a businessman in Listowel two days earlier.
The incident, which unfolded near the Skerrit Roundabout on the Old Dublin Road in Galway on Saturday, 18 April 2026, was witnessed by two off-duty Gardaí who alerted their colleagues. The cash, which was handed back by members of the public, was subsequently recovered in full.
Background
The chain of events began on Thursday, 16 April, when a businessman in Listowel, County Kerry, reported that a laptop bag containing €120,000 in cash and a laptop had been stolen from his car. The businessman had been preparing to lodge the money at a bank when the theft occurred. Gardaí in Listowel launched an investigation, using CCTV footage to identify a suspect, and later discovered the stolen laptop and €2,000 of the cash discarded in a ditch, which were sent for forensic analysis.
Two days later, the extraordinary scene on the Old Dublin Road in Galway brought the investigation to a head. Gavin Keane, of Greenville, Listowel, County Kerry, was observed throwing large quantities of cash at passing vehicles before being arrested by Gardaí. At the time of his arrest, Keane was found to be under the influence of intoxicants and in possession of €10,000 worth of cocaine.
The recovery of the cash thrown in Galway — totalling more than €20,000 — was made possible by the public-spirited response of motorists who returned the money to Gardaí rather than keeping it. Investigators believe the Galway cash forms part of the proceeds of the Listowel theft.
Key Developments
Gavin Keane appeared at a special sitting of Galway District Court facing seven charges in total. He was formally charged with the theft of €120,000 in cash and a Hewlett Packard laptop, valued at €800, from Mac Fuels and General Supplies Ltd in Listowel. He also faced two drug offences — possession of cocaine and possession with intent to supply — as well as three public order offences: resisting a Garda, being intoxicated in a public place, and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour. A further charge under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act related to possession of a glass bottle intended for causing injury.
Keane was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison and is scheduled for a subsequent court appearance via video-link. He was granted free legal aid during the court session. The case has attracted widespread attention, with the unusual circumstances of the Galway incident — and the public's decision to return the cash — generating significant coverage across Irish media.
Why It Matters
Beyond its undeniably extraordinary circumstances, the case raises serious questions about the movement of large quantities of cash and the vulnerability of businesses that handle significant sums. The theft of €120,000 from a businessman's car — money intended for a bank lodgement — highlights the risks faced by those who deal in cash, and the speed with which stolen funds can travel across the country. The case also serves as a reminder of the importance of CCTV infrastructure in enabling Gardaí to identify suspects quickly in the aftermath of serious crimes.
The public's response in Galway — returning the cash rather than pocketing it — has been widely praised and reflects well on the community. It also proved crucial to the investigation, ensuring that the evidence was preserved and that the full scale of the theft could be established.
Local Impact
In Listowel and across County Kerry, the theft of €120,000 from a local businessman has caused considerable concern. The town, best known as the home of the annual Writers' Week literary festival, is a close-knit community where such incidents are rare and deeply unsettling. For local businesses, the case has prompted renewed discussion about the risks of handling large cash sums and the importance of secure banking arrangements. In Galway, the incident on the Old Dublin Road has become one of the more remarkable stories of the year — a moment of genuine public-spiritedness in unusual circumstances.
What's Next
Gavin Keane's case will proceed through the courts in the coming weeks, with his next appearance scheduled via video-link from Castlerea Prison. The investigation into the Listowel theft is ongoing, and Gardaí are expected to present forensic evidence gathered from the laptop and cash recovered in the ditch. The full circumstances of how €120,000 came to be stolen — and how a portion of it ended up being thrown at motorists on a Galway roundabout — are likely to emerge as the case progresses through the courts.
For the full story, see The Irish Times report on the incident and Galway Bay FM's coverage of the arrest.
