Courts / Dublin / Report
Trinity College graduate guilty of firearms possession
Summary
Ursula Shannon (30), a Trinity College graduate and prominent member of socialist republican group Eirigi, and her co-accused John McGreal (37) were found guilty of the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012. They had not challenged any of the evidence in the case and had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight. They had also pleaded not guilty to the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The court heard that the accused were wearing wigs and disguises when they were intercepted by armed gardai outside a residential premises which also doubled as a business for a licensed firearms seller. CCTV footage of the interception of the stolen van they were travelling in was played to the court. The prosecution invited the court to infer that the people in the van were there to rob the shop and steal the firearms on the premises. The court heard evidence that interviews were conducted with the accused where Sections 18, 19 and 19A of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007 were invoked. The sections allow a judge or jury to draw inferences from an accused's failure or refusal to account for an object, substance or mark, or any mark on such object, or failure to account for their presence at a particular place. The judge or jury may treat this as corroborative of other evidence against the accused. There was evidence that John McGreal remained silent when questions were put to him where the sections were invoked in interview, while Shannon and Brady answered 'no comment' when questions were put to them. Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said the court was satisfied beyond doubt that each of the accused was in possession of the items referred to in the indictment. He said the court was also satisfied that the failure of the accused to respond to questions in interview where the sections were invoked entitled the court to draw inferences in each case corroborating the evidence of possession. By reason of this, Mr Justice Butler said the court found the three accused guilty of the offences with which they were charged. Co-accused Colin Brady (24), who was granted bail but did avail of it, was remanded in custody. Ursula Shannon and John McGreal were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at a later date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Trinity College graduate guilty of firearms possession. Charges or matters: the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012, but had not challenged any of the evidence in the case; the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight; the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 27th, 2012 Incident
- February 18 Adjournment
- 2014-02-12 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Charges: the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012, but had not challenged any of the evidence in the case; the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight; the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Co-accused Colin Brady (24), who was granted bail but did avail of it, was remanded in custody.
Convicted Person
Charges: the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012, but had not challenged any of the evidence in the case; the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight; the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.; John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.
Convicted Person
Charges: the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012, but had not challenged any of the evidence in the case; the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight; the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Ursula Shannon (30), who is a Trinity College graduate and prominent member of socialist republican group Eirigi, and her co-accused John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.; Ursula Shannon (30), who is a Trinity College graduate and prominent member of socialist republican group Eirigi, and her co-accused John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.
Convicted Person
Charges: the possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at Tullybeg, Rahan, Co Offaly on November 27th, 2012, but had not challenged any of the evidence in the case; the unlawful possession of one 9mm parabellum calibre Taurus PT92 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine suitable for use with the Taurus PT92 pistol, one 9mm parabellum calibre Walther P5 semi-automatic pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight; the possession of 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Ursula Shannon (30), who is a Trinity College graduate and prominent member of socialist republican group Eirigi, and her co-accused John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.; Ursula Shannon (30), who is a Trinity College graduate and prominent member of socialist republican group Eirigi, and her co-accused John McGreal (37) were remanded on continuing bail following the judgement of the Special Criminal Court today and will be sentenced at later date.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Palmer Road
- Rush
- Inglewood Crescent
- Baskin Lane
Topics
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