Courts / Cork / Report
"New IRA" investigation leads to jail for firearms pair
Summary
The Special Criminal Court sentenced two Cork men to prison for firearms offences following a garda investigation into the "New IRA". Joseph Walsh (36) and Michael Gilmartin (47) both pleaded guilty to possession of firearms, including a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, as well as ammunition, at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14, 2016. The court heard that gardai intercepted the pair in December 2016 while monitoring subversive activity, finding the weapons in a bag at Gilmartin's home. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted mitigating factors, including their early guilty pleas, describing Walsh as a recent recruit and Gilmartin's involvement as limited to logistical support. Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Gilmartin received five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently and were backdated to December 14, 2016.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "New IRA" investigation leads to jail for firearms pair. Charges or matters: possession of firearms including a magazine suitable for a 9mm parabellum pistol, a 9mm parabellum pistol and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, County Cork on September 14th, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 14th, 2016 Incident
- December 14th Incident
- December 14th, 2016 Incident
- 2018-02-05 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: possession of firearms including a magazine suitable for a 9mm parabellum pistol, a 9mm parabellum pistol and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, County Cork on September 14th, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Joseph Walsh (36) was jailed for five and a half years while his co-accused Michael Gilmartin (47) was sentenced to five years in prison. Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition.
Convicted Person
Charges: possession of firearms including a magazine suitable for a 9mm parabellum pistol, a 9mm parabellum pistol and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, County Cork on September 14th, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Michael Gilmartin (47) was sentenced to five years in prison. Gilmartin was jailed for five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Glengarriff
- Glengarriff Road
- Cork
- Chestnut Drive
- Newtown
- Cobh
- Chestnut Drive
Topics
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