Courts / Dublin / Report

Court hears of weapons arsenal found in Dublin business park

Date
2018-01-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court sentence hearing, Jonathan Harding, 45, of McNeill Court, Sallins, and James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, were found guilty of possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition. The weapons, recovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, included nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, an AK‑47, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The men were arrested after a surveillance operation that followed their travel in a Ford Transit van to the park. Harding had two prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for drug possession, while Walsh had previous public order offences. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 January, when sentencing will occur.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court hears of weapons arsenal found in Dublin business park. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 24th Incident
January 23rd, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
January 30th Adjournment
2018-01-11 Publication

Why: The detective said that because of the "urgent and pressing nature" of the investigation he gave instructions that the van be stopped. CNI source report

Case subjects

James Walsh

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded the men in custody until January 30th, when they will be sentenced.

Jonathan Harding

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded the men in custody until January 30th, when they will be sentenced.