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Czech man had blank-firing pistol in his luggage at Dublin airport

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jiri Vecernik, a 45‑year‑old Czech national residing in Tipperary, pleaded guilty to possession of a blank‑firing revolver found in his checked‑in luggage at Dublin Airport on 22 December 2013. The revolver, manufactured in Germany, could discharge cartridges containing a pepper‑spray‑type substance but was incapable of firing lethal ammunition. Vecernik had purchased the pistol online for €70, believing it would protect him after a physical altercation with a Slovak colleague over a dog. He claimed the incident had left him fearful that the colleague might return. Gardaí found no prior convictions for Vecernik, who had lived in Ireland since 2006 and worked as a handyman. The judge, citing the unusual circumstances and Vecernik's lack of criminal history, opted for a conviction under the Probation Act rather than a custodial sentence, noting that Vecernik had not breached any bail conditions and had fully cooperated with the investigation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Czech man had blank-firing pistol in his luggage at Dublin airport. Charges or matters: possession of the revolver at Dublin Airport on December 22, 2013. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• December 22, 2013 Incident
• 2015-02-19 Publication

Why: He fully co-operated with the subsequent garda investigation and outlined his reason for buying the pistol. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

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Read the original CNI report