Anthony Walker remanded ahead of sentencing for firearm offences

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Anthony Walker was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at the Special Criminal Court after admitting firearm and ammunition offences. The proceedings were reported on 7 May 2024.

Walker, of Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8, admitted possessing a .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver at Tallaght Road, Templeogue, on 23 November 2021. He also admitted possessing five rounds of ammunition on the same occasion in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he had no lawful purpose for them.

Detective Garda John Rourke said Walker arrived at Ryan Kelly’s address in a taxi and Kelly passed him an item later found to be the revolver, wrapped in a blue tea towel. Armed gardaí stopped the taxi near the M50 roundabout. Walker told gardaí he did not know he was carrying a gun when it was handed to him and realised during the trip what it was.

Michael Bowman SC, for Walker, said it was not the State’s case that his client organised the delivery or knew what was happening when the package was handed to him. He said Walker was kept from decision-making and became suspicious when he felt the revolver’s weight. Counsel described Walker as vulnerable and said a probation report assessed him as being at low risk of reoffending.

Mr Justice Burns adjourned sentencing to 29 May and remanded Walker in custody until then. The report said a decision not to prosecute him on a criminal organisation participation charge was to be entered on that date.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.