Courts / Limerick / Report

Limerick man jailed after tip-off from former partner

Summary

John Costello, 60, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, pleaded guilty to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a flat above the Coffee Pot, Abbeyfeale, on 21 February 2016, and to possessing three rounds of 9mm ammunition at his home address on 22 February 2016. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 February 2017, found the total amount of ammunition significant even though no firearm was present. The court noted that the ammunition was discovered after a tip‑off from Costello's former partner following a domestic dispute, and that Garda investigations suggested the possession was linked to subversive IRA activity. Mitigating factors included Costello's cooperation, early admission and plea of guilty, and the absence of prior convictions. He was sentenced to three years for the first offence and nine months for the second, the latter to run concurrently, with both sentences back‑dated to 3 November 2016.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Limerick man jailed after tip-off from former partner. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 21st, 2016 Incident
• February 22nd, 2016 Incident
• November 3rd Incident
• 2017-02-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Manager at global IT firm denies company 'lied' about position of former Irish employee
• High Court refuses to surrender Limerick man wanted for alleged human trafficking in Greece
• Tipperary man admits attempted murder
• Volunteer who said he was sacked for warning Church officials of 'rogue' relic traders can't pursue case, WRC rules
• Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
• 'You've to get the morning after pill': man who was 18 when he raped girl (15) gets seven years

Read the original CNI report