Kieran Ryan wins appeal over excessive firearms sentence

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

Kieran Ryan’s appeal against an eight-year sentence for two firearms offences was allowed by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The proceedings were reported on 18 March 2014.

Ryan pleaded guilty to two firearms offences involving possession of a Browning semi-automatic pistol. The report said he believed there was a gun in the package, did not intend to use it, and was collecting it to pass to an unnamed third party for €500.

The court considered the eight-year sentence excessive and found an error in principle concerning the assessment of the sentence. It allowed the appeal and interfered with the sentence, but said the seriousness of the offence meant a significant reduction could not be justified.