Patrick James Mansfield's bullets trial continues in Dublin

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

Patrick James (PJ) Mansfield's trial for unlawful possession of ammunition was continuing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Cormac Quinn. The proceedings were reported on 1 June 2018.

Mansfield denied possessing 1,252 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition without the relevant firearms licence. The alleged possession was at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, Co Dublin, on 29 January 2015.

The jury heard evidence about firearms-licence applications. One application described Mansfield as a person of good character with a genuine reason for applying and said he was a member of an authorised pistol club.

Detective Garda Ian Pemberton told the trial that, after his arrest, Mansfield said he did not know he had that much ammunition in the house. Pemberton also told the jury that Mansfield had co-operated with the investigation and had no previous convictions.

The trial heard that, during an earlier audit of firearm licence holders, gardaí checked Mansfield's licensed firearms but did not ask for ammunition to be produced. Bernard Condon SC, defending, said the ammunition was never thought of.