Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for father-of-five who had shotgun
Summary
Sam Power, 31, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to three years in prison for possessing a sawn‑off shotgun, with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 30 April 2015 at his parents‑in‑law's home. The gun, belonging to his missing brother‑in‑law William Maughan, was found wrapped on a radiator in the parents‑in‑law bedroom. Power had shown the weapon to a group of men in a "joking" manner, according to Detective Sergeant Gregory Sheehan, who had been in the area for a separate matter. Power has 82 prior convictions, including knives, assault and public order offences, and was on bail for possession of stolen property at the time of the offence. The court considered his personal circumstances, including the death of his mother when he was 15, his wife's heart condition, and the threat to his family, before imposing the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for father-of-five who had shotgun. Charges or matters: possessing the firearm at the home of his parents-in-law on April 30, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 30, 2015 Incident
- 2016-07-28 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing the firearm at the home of his parents-in-law on April 30, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Kavanagh said a prison sentence would "create significant hardships for himself and his family" and the lack of a male figure in the household "would risk the threat of an upbringing with criminality" for his five children.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Public Order Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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