Courts / Dublin / Report

Firearms trial hears of stolen van

Date
2016-06-09

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2016, two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were tried for unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, a magazine and various rounds of ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on 5 June 2014. Both pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that a Kildare man's Renault Kangoo van had been stolen from his home on 30 April 2014, with its keys missing, and that the van was later recovered by the Gardaí. The van's registration number did not match the tax disc at the time of the alleged offences. Garda Graham Dunne interviewed Byrne on 6 June 2014, questioning him about the firearm, ammunition, the stolen van with false plates, and his presence at Glenshane Crescent the previous morning; Byrne gave no reply. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Firearms trial hears of stolen van. Charges or matters: the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre semi-automatic pistol and magazine at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on June 5th, 2014; the possession of various rounds of 9mm calibre semi-automatic ammunition at the same address on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 2014 Incident
June 5th, 2014 Incident
April 30th, 2014 Incident
June 6th, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-06-09 Publication

Case subjects

Dean Byrne

Defendant

Charges: the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre semi-automatic pistol and magazine at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on June 5th, 2014; the possession of various rounds of 9mm calibre semi-automatic ammunition at the same address on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Michael Finlay

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty