Courts / Dublin / Report
Lithuanian man jailed for firearms possession after falling in with "bad crowd"
Summary
A 23‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Juozaponis Sarunas, also known as Tomas Banaitis, was sentenced to 39 months in prison for possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, and for holding a fake Lithuanian driving licence. The licence, issued in the name of Banaitis, was found alongside an authentic Lithuanian ID card bearing Sarunas's real name. Gardaí discovered the weapon and ammunition when Sarunas was observed digging on waste ground and later fled, leaving a bag that contained the pistol, two magazines and the licence. He claimed he was moving the items because he owed €1,000 to a "bad crowd." Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Sarunas likely knew the weapon would be used illicitly and imposed a sentence of three and a quarter years, taking into account his status as a foreign national and the mitigating circumstances. Juozaponis Sarunas pleaded guilty. Tomas Banaitis pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lithuanian man jailed for firearms possession after falling in with "bad crowd". Charges or matters: possession of a semi automatic pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and having a fake Lithuanian driving licence at Grange Road, Clonsilla on September 13, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 13, 2013 Incident
- 2014-10-17 Publication
Why: Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said that Sarunas had fallen into bad company and was moving on items because he owed €1,000. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of a semi automatic pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and having a fake Lithuanian driving licence at Grange Road, Clonsilla on September 13, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a three and a quarter year sentence taking into account the mitigating circumstances and the fact that Sarunas was a foreign national.
Defendant
Charges: possession of a semi automatic pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and having a fake Lithuanian driving licence at Grange Road, Clonsilla on September 13, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
- Grange Road
Topics
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