Ken McDermott jailed for guns and drugs offences

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ken McDermott was jailed for six years for drugs and firearms offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 November 2016. The proceedings were reported on 17 November 2016.

He pleaded guilty to possession of controlled drugs for sale or supply and unlawful possession of firearms. The firearms offence occurred at Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, on 27 May 2015.

The report described guns, ammunition, ecstasy and cocaine. The controlled drugs discovered in the van had a total estimated street value of €483,372.

McDermott told gardaí he had agreed to take part in the importation to support his family. After his arrest, he admitted knowing there was something illegal in the bags but said he did not know they contained guns and had thought it was a much less serious offence.

Judge Melanie Greally accepted that McDermott was unaware of the packages’ exact contents. However, she said that, had he given the matter any thought, he would have known drugs or firearms were likely to be in the shipment and that ignorance could not be pleaded. She said he had acted to support his family without considering the drugs’ impact on the community.

The judge took account of his guilty plea, financial circumstances at the time of the offence, family support and low risk of reoffending. She recommended that he be placed in Mountjoy Prison to remain close to family members.