Courts / Dublin / Report

Seven years for father-of-five over possession of loaded revolver

Date
2017-10-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Vincent Maher, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a loaded Smith & Weston revolver found in a laneway beside a Dublin pub. He was arrested after a surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to the firearm offence on 6 December 2016. The revolver, fully loaded with six bullets and wrapped in a black scarf, was recovered in a plastic bag by workmen; Maher's DNA was found on the butt. He claimed he kept the gun for personal protection, citing threats to his life, but no Garda Information Message had been issued to him. Maher also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for personal use (22 November 2015) and possession of heroin for sale or supply (15 March 2016). All three offences occurred while he was serving a suspended sentence for possession of €20,000 worth of heroin.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Seven years for father-of-five over possession of loaded revolver. Charges or matters: possession of a loaded Smith and Weston revolver at Mountjoy Street, Dublin 1, on December 6, 2016; possession of heroin for personal use on November 22, 2015 and possession of heroin for sale or supply on March 15, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 6, 2016 Incident
November 22, 2015 Incident
March 15, 2016 Incident
2017-10-10 Publication

Case subjects

Vincent Maher

Defendant

Charges: possession of a loaded Smith and Weston revolver at Mountjoy Street, Dublin 1, on December 6, 2016; possession of heroin for personal use on November 22, 2015 and possession of heroin for sale or supply on March 15, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Describing Maher as "a man of intelligence", Judge Martin Nolan said the defendant's actions merited a severe custodial sentence. "However, I must give him credit for his early guilty plea and his co-operation with gardai," Judge Nolan said. Maher was sentenced to seven years in prison – one year for possession of heroin for personal use, four years for possession of heroin worth €4,658 for sale or supply and six years for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.