Courts / Dublin / Report

Gardai unable to ensure public safety if "hit team" defendant attended son's funeral

Date
2019-12-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen Cummins, 40, who pleaded guilty to possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer, withdrew his request to attend his 19‑year‑old son's funeral mass after a Garda risk assessment concluded it would be impossible to ensure public and Garda safety if he attended the church service. Cummins had previously sought a compassionate bail application to attend the funeral, but the court allowed him to attend the funeral home only. The court expressed deep sympathy for his loss. Cummins explained he wanted to pay his last respects, but the prosecution argued he was a flight risk. Garda evidence highlighted Cummins' involvement in a feud‑related "hit team" operation and potential access to false documents. The case remains pending sentencing on 20 January 2020.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gardai unable to ensure public safety if "hit team" defendant attended son's funeral. Charges or matters: possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer two years ago; firearms offences, following an investigation "in relation to a feud situation in Dublin"; possessing a firearm, namely a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose at Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 on September 6, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 20th, 2020 Incident
September 6, 2017 Incident
2019-12-11 Publication

Case subjects

Owen Cummins

Convicted Person

Charges: possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer two years ago; firearms offences, following an investigation "in relation to a feud situation in Dublin"; possessing a firearm, namely a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose at Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 on September 6, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He will be sentenced on January 20th, 2020.