Courts / Dublin / Report
Convicted murderer sentenced for setting fire to stolen car with handgun in glove box
Summary
Eugene Cullen, 30, from Sundale Villas, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm and arson on 4 August 2008. He and Adam Griffiths, 27, were seen leaving a hedge in Palmerstown Green after driving a stolen Honda Civic from Cherry Orchard. Cullen leaned into the car and flames soon erupted. Gardaí stopped a vehicle driven by a third man shortly thereafter. An inspection of the charred car revealed a 9‑mm pistol in the passenger side glove box, confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen. Neither man was charged with the theft. Griffiths pleaded guilty to driving without the owner's consent. He received a two‑year suspended sentence. Cullen, already serving a life sentence for murder, was given a six‑year custodial term, with no credit for time already served on the firearm charge. The court noted that Cullen had no knowledge that the gun was in the car.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted murderer sentenced for setting fire to stolen car with handgun in glove box. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm and arson at Palmerstown Green, Dublin on August 4 2008; the car's theft; driving a vehicle without the owners consent on August 4, 2008. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 4 2008 Incident
- August 4, 2008 Incident
- 2015-05-11 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the car's theft; driving a vehicle without the owners consent on August 4, 2008 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Griffiths was given a two year suspended sentence in full by Judge Martin Nolan.
Defendant
Charges: possession of a firearm and arson at Palmerstown Green, Dublin on August 4 2008; the car's theft; driving a vehicle without the owners consent on August 4, 2008 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The court heard that Cullen is serving a life sentence for murder and the delay in this case coming before the court was due to the fact that he was not charged with possessing the firearm until recently. Cullen briefly addressed Judge Nolan to ask that the sentence be backdated to his arrest last year when he was extradited from Holland on the murder charge.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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