Courts / Down / Report

'I don't believe a word out of his mouth' - Judge questions why man had hammer and crowbar for 'pallets'

Date
2025-07-16

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dundrum

County
Down

Summary

Reagan Chang, 53, of Clonee, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to possessing a hammer and crowbar in a GO rental car in Dundrum on January 30, 2023. The case was brought under Section 9(4) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. Garda Brenda O'Brien testified that she found Chang asleep in the vehicle and that he initially claimed the items were for his own protection. In court, Chang denied making such a statement and offered no mitigation. Defence counsel Michael O'Brien BL suggested Chang had been looking for discarded wooden pallets, a claim Judge Anne Watkin described as arriving "out of the blue" and inconsistent with the Garda's account. Judge Watkin stated she did not believe Chang's evidence, noting the explanation for needing a crowbar and hammer for pallets made no sense. She remarked that Chang had provided no legitimate reason for possessing the items and suggested he may have been lying to either the Gardaí or the court. The judge indicated there was no evidence Chang felt threatened or in need of protection. The matter was adjourned for a full probation report, with Chang due back before the court on November 17.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I don't believe a word out of his mouth' - Judge questions why man had hammer and crowbar for 'pallets'. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

January 30, 2023 Incident
November 17 Adjournment
2025-07-16 Publication

Case subjects

Offensive Weapons Act

Applicant

Outcome: And now, we're suddenly told he needed them for wooden pallets?" Judge Watkin said: "I don't know why you'd need a crowbar and a hammer for wooden pallets." Michael O'Brien BL suggested: "Maybe to take them apart." Judge Watkin said there was no indication in court that Mr Chang felt threatened or in need of protection, despite what Garda O'Brien told the court he had said at the time. "Sometimes

Reagan Chang

Defendant

Plea: Guilty