Courts / Dublin / Report

Probation for man unaware of license requirement for airgun

Date
2020-12-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 December 2020, Tomasz Surowiak, a 27‑year‑old Polish national, pleaded guilty to possessing an airgun without a certificate. The court heard that Surowiak was not involved in an earlier incident in which a handgun was allegedly pointed out of a car window. Garda Matthew Kennedy described how police intercepted a VW Golf in Tyrone Place, Inchicore, and arrested Surowiak, who was driving the vehicle. A firearm, described as a gas‑powered training gun used for indoor target practice, was found on the passenger seat and confiscated. Surowiak claimed he bought the gun in Drogheda the previous May, had no knowledge that a licence was required in Ireland, and had not loaded the weapon.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Probation for man unaware of license requirement for airgun. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm without a certificate at Tyrone Place, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on August 18, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 18, 2018 Incident
2020-12-10 Publication

Why: Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Tomasz Surowiak (27) did not take part in this alleged incident and that he was unaware he needed a certificate in order to lawfully possess the firearm. Court evidence reported by CNI

Case subjects

Tomasz Surowiak

Defendant

Charges: possession of a firearm without a certificate at Tyrone Place, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on August 18, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Elma Sheahan said if the court were minded to impose a sentence, she would have imposed a sentence of 12 months and would then apply a six month deduction.