Michael Hoolohan jailed for firearm offences in Ballyfermot

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

Michael Hoolohan was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of a firearm. The offences occurred at Cedarbrook Walk, Ballyfermot, on 16 April 2020. The proceedings were reported on 6 May 2021.

Hoolohan pleaded guilty to both charges. Judge Martin Nolan said Hoolohan believed four youths had mistreated his son and fired several shots intending to frighten them, but had not intended to harm them. The judge said a custodial sentence was required.

The report said gardaí linked the shooting to Hoolohan’s van after CCTV identified the vehicle and firearms residue was found inside it. His defence said the incident was not linked to a feud or criminal gang and that he had overreacted while stressed as a parent. Detective Sergeant Ronan McDermott accepted it was a moment of madness that Hoolohan regretted, and agreed that his guilty plea was valuable to the State.