Courts / Donegal / Report
Donegal man pleads guilty to possession of AK47-type rifles
Summary
A 39-year-old man from Killygordan in County Donegal has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to multiple charges including possession of three assault rifles and ammunition. Shane Rowan admitted to possessing a Chinese Type 56 rifle, a Romanian PM63 rifle, and a Zastava M70 rifle, together with associated magazines, discovered at a location in County Meath on 9 March 2016. He further pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing ammunition: 75 rounds of 7.62 by 39mm calibre rounds and 78 rounds of 9mm parabellum calibre rounds. Rowan also admitted to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The three-judge panel remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 27 July 2016.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Donegal man pleads guilty to possession of AK47-type rifles. Charges or matters: the possession of three assault rifles, including a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70, as well as three magazines suitable for use in each rifle, at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th this year; two counts of possessing ammunition; membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, also on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 9th Incident
- Wednesday, July 27th Adjournment
- 2016-07-19 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the possession of three assault rifles, including a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70, as well as three magazines suitable for use in each rifle, at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th this year; two counts of possessing ammunition; membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, also on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Rowan in custody until next Wednesday, July 27th, when he will be sentenced.
Defendant
Charges: the possession of three assault rifles, including a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70, as well as three magazines suitable for use in each rifle, at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th this year; two counts of possessing ammunition; membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, also on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Rowan in custody until next Wednesday, July 27th, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Rowan in custody until next Wednesday, July 27th, when he will be sentenced.
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