Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda struggle with machine gun-wielding gangland criminal ended up in bathtub as armed grenade lay on floor

Date
2020-06-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ballymun

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard the case of Derek Devoy, 37, who was arrested for possessing a Makarov submachine gun and a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life. Devoy also pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant, and to possessing an explosive substance. The incident began when three unarmed gardaí on patrol received a 999 call about Devoy in Doon Court. A chase led to a family house on Crannogue Road where Devoy was found sitting on a toilet with the gun. The firearm discharged, narrowly missing Sergeant Andrew O'Connor and Garda Niall Minnock, and a grenade lay on the floor. Gardaí restrained Devoy, who was later taken to Ballymun Garda Station and then hospital for a perforated ulcer. CCTV footage of Devoy with the gun and grenade was shown to the court. The case was adjourned to 23 July for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda struggle with machine gun-wielding gangland criminal ended up in bathtub as armed grenade lay on floor. Charges or matters: possessing a Makarov submachine gun with intent to endanger life, or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11 on March 11, 2019; two charges under Section 19 of the Public Order Act for assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant at Crannogue Road on the same date; possessing an explosive substance, to wit a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on the same occasion and to 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 11, 2019 Incident
23 July Adjournment
2020-06-22 Publication

Case subjects

Derek Devoy

Defendant

Charges: possessing a Makarov submachine gun with intent to endanger life, or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11 on March 11, 2019; two charges under Section 19 of the Public Order Act for assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant at Crannogue Road on the same date; possessing an explosive substance, to wit a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on the same occasion and to 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He adjourned the case to 23 July for the finalisation of the sentence.; He adjourned the case to 23 July for the finalisation of the sentence.