Courts / Dublin / Report
Suspended sentence for Henry Hoover gun stash too lenient, State says
Summary
The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed a suspended sentence imposed on a man convicted of unlawful possession of firearms at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. Stephen O'Connor, aged 45, of Carndonagh, was handed a four-year suspended sentence in May by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to storing two loaded semi-automatic pistols concealed within a vacuum cleaner at his home on 7 September 2019. The State argues the suspension should not have been imposed in full, though it does not challenge the four-year term itself. The trial judge heard that O'Connor, who has no previous convictions, agreed to conceal the weapons when approached by a criminal associate during a period of gangland activity in Dublin. His legal counsel submitted that he was exceptionally vulnerable at the time, suffering serious mental health difficulties and previous suicide attempts, and had been exploited. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgement, describing the case as very serious.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for Henry Hoover gun stash too lenient, State says. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of firearms at his address on September 7, 2019. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 7, 2019 Incident
- 2021-10-22 Publication
Why: At trial, the court heard that O'Connor (45) was approached by a criminal figure while he was "incredibly vulnerable" and agreed to hold onto the firearms in order to "get them off his back". Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: unlawful possession of firearms at his address on September 7, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr McCormack said that the State did not take issue with the four-year sentence fixed by the trial judge but argued that the judge should not have suspended the sentence in its entirety. Counsel said that O'Connor's case was "exceptional towards unique" and that the trial judge had not erred in fully suspending the sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request