Courts / Dublin / Report

Memorabilia collector "made serious error of judgement" in buying stolen shotgun

Summary

Anthony Kearney, 65, a former bric a brac shop owner and memorabilia collector, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen Baikal double‑barrel shotgun. He bought the weapon for €440 at a Sunday market in Balbriggan, believing it to be a harmless piece for his collection. Gardaí stopped him in his van, found the broken firearm, and later searched his home, which contained no other criminal items. The court, noting Kearney's lack of prior convictions and the circumstances, deemed the offence a "serious error of judgement." Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered restitution of the firearm. The mandatory five‑year minimum was set aside due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Memorabilia collector "made serious error of judgement" in buying stolen shotgun. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 13, 2015 Incident
• 2017-02-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report