Courts / Dublin / Report

"Trusted" gang member jailed for having loaded gun in city

Date
2019-07-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Beatty, 32, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8, was arrested on 2 June 2018 with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag and five rounds of ammunition. He had previously served a seven‑year sentence in 2010 for possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found that Beatty's conduct was "clearly intended" to evade Gardaí and that he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. The judge imposed a headline sentence of ten years, reduced by 25 % for his early guilty plea, and ultimately sentenced Beatty to seven and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offence and Beatty's extensive criminal history, including 71 prior convictions. The court noted that no further mitigation was appropriate for a repeat offender.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Trusted" gang member jailed for having loaded gun in city. Charges or matters: the offence of possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances; the possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances in 2010 and received a seven-year sentence. "In the case of a repeat offender there is no room for further mitigation. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2, 2018 Incident
June 2 Other
2019-07-15 Publication

Case subjects

Paul Beatty

Convicted Person

Charges: the offence of possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances; the possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances in 2010 and received a seven-year sentence. "In the case of a repeat offender there is no room for further mitigation (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The non-jury court has also heard that Beatty was jailed for seven years in 2010, having pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. Sentencing the defendant, Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, sentenced Beatty to seven and a half years imprisonment, backdated to June 2, 2018 when he went into custody.