Courts / Dublin / Report

6.5 years for man caught with loaded gun, masks and gloves

Summary

Robert O'Connor, 34, of Dublin 17, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol in Finglas on 13 October 2021. The gun, which had three rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, was found in a Tesco bag along with two jackets, two pairs of gloves, two face masks and a second jacket. Garda Sean Kelly reported that O'Connor and another man had abandoned a vehicle on the N2, were chased down North Road, and were seen removing their tops before being stopped. O'Connor claimed he carried the gun to pay off a drug debt and that he feared for his life. The court accepted his guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and his stated ambition to reform. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of nine years but, after considering the plea and cooperation, sentenced him to six and a half years in prison.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 6.5 years for man caught with loaded gun, masks and gloves. Charges or matters: possession of the semi-automatic pistol in Finglas on October 13, 21. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 13 Incident
• 2022-07-27 Publication

Why: He was arrested and questioned and claimed he had the gun because he was "in fear of my life". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report