Courts / Louth / Report
Gun-runner who sold assault weapons to criminal gangs will have cash returned to him
Summary
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to importing guns and ammunition. At the Special Criminal Court, Ms Justice O'Connor noted that O'Brien used his dual citizenship to purchase firearms in America for sale in Ireland. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances, including AR-15 barrels and pistol frames, contrary to the Firearms Act 1964. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of these items. Although O'Brien was originally charged with two counts of money laundering involving sums of €7,450 and €9,980, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped these charges. The State indicated it would not pursue forfeiture of the cash, and the court ordered the funds be returned to O'Brien. O'Brien was part of a criminal organisation led by Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down. McCourt was previously sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components between February 2023 and July 2024. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was central to the organisation, which distributed weapons to gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerick.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gun-runner who sold assault weapons to criminal gangs will have cash returned to him. Charges or matters: importing guns and ammunition; a charge that between February 10, 2023, and July 19, 2024 with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the criminal organisation or any of its members in the importation of firearms and ammunition and explosives; five counts concerning the possession or control of firearms or ammunition in suspicious circumstances, contrary to the provisions of Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, as substituted by section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007; facilitating the criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and the possession of firearms co
When:
- February 10, 2023 Incident
- July 19, 2024 Incident
- February 2023 Incident
- July 2024 Incident
- 2026-03-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: importing guns and ammunition; a charge that between February 10, 2023, and July 19, 2024 with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the criminal organisation or any of its members in the importation of firearms and ammunition and explosives; five counts concerning the possession or control of firearms or ammunition in suspicious circumstances, contrary to the provisions of Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, as substituted by section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007; facilitating the criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and the possession of firearms components (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Conor O'Brien (29), of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was jailed last week for 11 years with the final year suspended after he pleaded guilty to importing guns and ammunition. Passing sentence on O'Brien last week, Ms Justice O'Connor said the defendant took advantage of his dual citizenship to purchase guns in America and sell them here for financial gain.
Convicted Person
Charges: facilitating the criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and the possession of firearms components (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: McCourt (34) of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court, having also pleaded guilty to facilitating the criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and the possession of firearms components.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- John Street
Topics
Fraud Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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