Courts / Limerick / Report

Sawn-off shotgun can have "no legitimate purpose", court finds

Date
2018-12-04

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Rathkeale

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court case, Dublin men Conor Hughes (41) and Darren Fox (28) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge, sawn‑off, double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The weapons were seized on 31 October 2015 in a stolen car in Limerick, where a loaded shotgun, a jerry can of petrol and matches were found. The men were wearing gloves and hoodies, and the shotgun's serial number had been removed. Both had clean criminal records. The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment on 2 October 2017, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal on 4 December 2018. The appeal was dismissed, with the Court of Appeal noting the seriousness of a sawn‑off shotgun, its readiness to fire, and the connection to IRA activity as factors justifying the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sawn-off shotgun can have "no legitimate purpose", court finds. Charges or matters: the unlawful possession of a Winchester 12-gauge, sawn-off, double-barrel side-by-side shotgun and two 12-gauge shotgun cartridges at Kyletaun, Rathkeale, County Limerick on October 31st, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

October 31st, 2015 Incident
October 2, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-12-04 Publication

Case subjects

Conor Hughes

Defendant

Charges: the unlawful possession of a Winchester 12-gauge, sawn-off, double-barrel side-by-side shotgun and two 12-gauge shotgun cartridges at Kyletaun, Rathkeale, County Limerick on October 31st, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Darren Fox

Defendant

Plea: Guilty