In the early hours of Thursday, November 27, 2025, a quiet residential street in Collon Lane, Londonderry, became the scene of a violent confrontation that left four police officers injured and two young men facing a slew of serious charges. The incident, which unfolded during a planned arrest operation, has sparked renewed concern about the dangers faced by police officers in Northern Ireland and raised questions about the intersection of mental health and violent crime.
According to multiple reports from BBC, Derry Journal, and other local outlets, the primary suspect, 21-year-old Eoin Carlin of Collon Lane, was wanted by police on unrelated matters. Officers arrived at Carlin’s home at approximately 2 a.m., initially attempting to engage with him through an open window. What began as a routine arrest quickly escalated when Carlin, described by witnesses as becoming increasingly aggressive, punched an officer in the face.
Police were forced to enter the property, where they found Carlin standing in the living room with one hand concealed behind his back. Officers repeatedly ordered him to show both hands, but Carlin refused to comply. As they moved in to make the arrest, Carlin produced a hunting knife with a five-inch blade from behind his back and lashed out at the officers, according to testimony presented at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court.
The violence that followed was swift and severe. One officer was stabbed in the torso, but was saved from potentially fatal injuries by his body armour. The officer later described feeling the “pressure” of the knife against the protective vest. Another officer was less fortunate, sustaining a deep gash to his left leg that required six stitches. He is currently recuperating at home and remains off duty. Two additional officers were also injured in the melee, though details of their injuries were not specified in the court proceedings.
Carlin was subdued and taken into custody, but the incident did not end there. During police interviews, Carlin reportedly expressed concern for the well-being of the injured officers. His solicitor told the court that Carlin had a history of serious, longstanding mental health issues and had been treated as a hospital inpatient as recently as May 2025. The solicitor further argued that Carlin “had not realised for much of the incident that he was dealing with police,” a point echoed during cross-examination of the investigating detective. “He has made it clear that when the incident started and for a large part of it, he was not aware he was dealing with police,” the defence stated in court, as reported by the Derry Journal.
Despite these mitigating factors, District Judge Steven Keown made it clear that the gravity of the offences could not be ignored. Carlin now faces a total of eight charges, including attempted murder, wounding, assault causing actual bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of both class B and class C drugs. Carlin appeared via videolink from the custody suite at Waterside PSNI station, where he confirmed he understood the charges. There was no application for bail, and he was remanded in custody to appear again at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court on December 18, 2025.
The court heard chilling details about the sequence of events. A detective constable outlined how police initially tried to de-escalate the situation by speaking through the window, only for Carlin to escalate it by becoming aggressive and physically assaulting an officer. When officers entered the property, Carlin’s refusal to show his hands raised immediate alarm. As officers approached, he lashed out with the knife, first striking at an officer’s torso—an attack that could have been fatal if not for the body armour—and then stabbing another officer below the knee. The officer stabbed in the leg required six stitches and is currently incapacitated at home, while the officer attacked in the torso remains on duty, albeit shaken by the experience.
Carlin’s solicitor maintained that the defendant’s mental health struggles were a significant factor in the incident. During police interviews, Carlin inquired after the well-being of the injured officers, suggesting a degree of remorse or at least concern for the consequences of his actions. However, the solicitor also conceded that mental health issues “don’t affect the gravity of the offences, but it goes some way towards the defendant’s intent.”
The case has drawn attention from senior police officials. Following the events on Collon Lane, PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton publicly voiced concerns about the rising number of attacks on police officers in Northern Ireland. The incident has reignited debate over the risks faced by law enforcement and the adequacy of support for officers dealing with violent and unpredictable situations.
This was not the only arrest made in connection with the events of that Thursday morning. On Friday, November 28, Connlan Boyle, a 20-year-old from Rosskeen Park in Derry, appeared in court on separate charges linked to the same police operation. Boyle is accused of assaulting police officers and a custody detention officer, spitting at officers, and being in possession of a class B controlled drug. He was also wanted for breaching bail. The court heard that Boyle had punched and spat in the face of police at the property in Collon Lane, though he was not connected to the stabbing incident. Boyle, like Carlin, was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear again on December 10, 2025.
The violent events in Collon Lane have left a lasting impact on the local police force and the wider Londonderry community. The officers involved continue to recover, both physically and emotionally, while the legal proceedings against Carlin and Boyle move forward. The case has underscored the unpredictable nature of police work and the complex interplay between criminal behaviour and mental health challenges.
As the community awaits further developments, the spotlight remains on the need for robust support systems for both law enforcement and individuals struggling with mental health. The court’s next hearings in December are expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding this disturbing incident—and on what lessons might be learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
