Courts / Dublin / Report

'Vulnerable' taxi man took possession of loaded handgun in 'moment of madness'

Date
2024-05-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 53‑year‑old Anthony Walker, a taxi driver, admitted possessing a loaded .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on 23 November 2021. He claimed he was unaware the item was a gun, saying he had only realised during the trip that it was a firearm. Walker said he had been instructed by 25‑year‑old Ryan Kelly, who had been jailed for a sophisticated enterprise, to deliver the weapon. Walker's contact with Kelly had lasted 18 months, and he had exchanged texts such as "I'll be there" and "send me the number, nearly there." Walker has eight prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and is described by counsel as a vulnerable individual with Tourette's, ADHD and OCD. The court adjourned sentencing to 29 May and remanded Walker in custody. The prosecution will decide whether to charge him with participation in a criminal organisation. Ryan Kelly pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Vulnerable' taxi man took possession of loaded handgun in 'moment of madness'. Charges or matters: possessing the firearm and the five rounds of the ammunition that were in the gun. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 23, 2021 Incident
November 2021 Incident
May 29 Incident
2024-05-07 Publication

Case subjects

Anthony Walker

Defendant

Charges: possessing the firearm and the five rounds of the ammunition that were in the gun (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Mr Justice Burns adjourned the matter for sentencing to May 29 and remanded Walker in custody to that date.

Ryan Kelly

Convicted Person

Charges: possessing the firearm and the five rounds of the ammunition that were in the gun (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Kelly was jailed at the Special Criminal Court in January for his involvement in what Mr Justice Paul Burns described as "a sophisticated enterprise".; Mr Justice Burns adjourned the matter for sentencing to May 29 and remanded Walker in custody to that date.