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"A moment of utter madness": former community worker pulled imitation AK-47 on security guard
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Hendley, a 49‑year‑old former community worker, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm in a public place with the intention of intimidating a security guard at a Centra shop on Poppintree Parade, Ballymun, on 25 May 2015. The court found that Hendley had brought an air‑soft AK‑47 type imitation gun to the shop after a verbal altercation with the guard, who was attempting to move a group of young people outside. Hendley had threatened the guard with a pole during a brief physical confrontation, then returned ten minutes later with the imitation firearm, which was found to be non‑functional. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 14 months on strict conditions. The case highlighted Hendley's 29 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and his claim that the incident was a "moment of utter madness.".
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "A moment of utter madness": former community worker pulled imitation AK-47 on security guard. Charges or matters: possession of an imitation firearm in a public place with the intention of intimidating another at Poppintree Parade, Ballymun, on May 25, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 25, 2015 Incident
- 2018-02-27 Publication
Why: He said he had procured the imitation firearm in order to terrify him and had succeeded. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of an imitation firearm in a public place with the intention of intimidating another at Poppintree Parade, Ballymun, on May 25, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a two-year sentence and suspended the final 14 months on strict conditions. Mr Le Vert said Hendley was a very intelligent man who had developed drug difficulties at a late stage in his twenties, which lead to him receiving custodial sentences.
Places mentioned
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