Courts / Dublin / Report
Polish man gets suspended sentence for possession of plastic gun that was "clearly a toy"
Summary
In February 2015, a Dublin court heard the case of Rafal Wojciechowski, a 47‑year‑old Polish man, who pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm. The incident began when a bus driver, believing the plastic orange and black gun to be real, restrained Wojciechowski and called emergency services. Garda Christopher Kelly testified that the driver had followed Wojciechowski on Cavendish Road and that the gun, which had an orange bit protruding from the barrel, was clearly a toy. Wojciechowski, who had no prior convictions, claimed he had bought the gun for his nephew and was intoxicated at the time. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Wojciechowski's "idiotic" behaviour, imposed a six‑month suspended sentence. The case had reached the Circuit Court after a District Court judge had declined jurisdiction. The defendant had lived in Ireland for about eight years and worked as a gardener, with limited English.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Polish man gets suspended sentence for possession of plastic gun that was "clearly a toy". Charges or matters: possessing an imitation firearm at Cavendish Road on June 28, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 28, 2014 Incident
- 2015-02-20 Publication
Why: He further agreed that the case had come so far through the court system because a District Court judge had refused jurisdiction. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing an imitation firearm at Cavendish Road on June 28, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan commented that Wojciechowski had "behaved in an idiotic fashion" by pointing the toy gun at bystanders and imposed a six month suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
- Dorset Street
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Cavendish Road
Topics
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