Pair jailed for moving sawn-off shotgun

Two men have been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their conviction for transporting a sawn-off shotgun in the Balbriggan area on 25 September 2020. Thomas McDonagh, aged 36, of Oldcastle Drive, Clondalkin, and William Ward, aged 25, of Owendoher Haven, Ballyboden, both pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm. The men attempted to flee at high speed after gardaí signalled them to stop, prompting a pursuit during which two children were forced to take evasive action. Armed gardaí ultimately apprehended both defendants following a foot chase. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of three-and-a-half years imprisonment on McDonagh, noting he was conveyed the firearm by a relative. Ward received two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the judge taking account of his age and mental health difficulties. Both men's early guilty pleas allowed the judge to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The court heard there was no evidence the defendants intended to use the weapon.