Courts / Dublin / Report

Man tried to pull loaded handgun on unarmed gardai

Summary

Leon Mitchell, 43, of Shangan Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and seven 9mm rounds on 14 April 2022. He was found with a modified, loaded 9mm pistol that could fire automatically. During an altercation with unarmed Gardaí, Mitchell attempted to produce the weapon, lashing out and striking officers. Gardaí restrained him and removed the firearm, which was later confirmed to be loaded. Judge Dara Hayes noted Mitchell's 13 prior convictions, including a firearm offence, and the impact on the Gardaí. He imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five and a half years after considering a significant period of non‑offending. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the potential harm caused by the weapon in a public place.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man tried to pull loaded handgun on unarmed gardai. Charges or matters: one count of possession of a firearm and one count of possession of seven 9mm rounds of ammunition at Shangan Gardens on April 14, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 14, 2022 Incident
• 2005 to 2018 Other
• 2022-12-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report