Courts / Dublin / Report

'Having a bad day': judge notes man's euphemistic account of pointing loaded handgun at relative

Summary

Mark O'Neill, 51, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior traffic convictions. Judge Orla Crowe, after noting his remorse and that the incident was out‑of‑character, set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced it to four and a half years, suspending the final six months. O'Neill had pointed the gun at a relative during a family dispute, issuing threats and claiming the man owed him money. Gardaí recovered the revolver and six rounds of ammunition from his home, and DNA matched O'Neill. He had a history of drug addiction and intoxication, but his defence argued the event was isolated and he had since ceased drug use. The judge acknowledged his good behaviour and health issues but upheld the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Having a bad day': judge notes man's euphemistic account of pointing loaded handgun at relative. Charges or matters: possessing a Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on September 7, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 7, 2022 Incident
• 2024-10-30 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report