Phillip McBride jailed for three years after gun was found

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

Phillip McBride was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 March 2022. The proceedings were reported on 2 March 2022.

McBride, 44, of Cedar Grove, Swords, Dublin, was wearing two sets of clothes when he was arrested with another man in Co Westmeath in December 2019. His co-accused, Derek Byrne, 38, of Drynam Green, Swords, had previously been jailed for six years.

Detective Garda Stuart Gleeson told the court that gardaí had information that a gun was to be found at Byrne’s address and set up surveillance. On 3 December 2019, Byrne was seen leaving the house with a bag and getting into a BMW driven by McBride. Gardaí followed the car and attempted to stop it on the N4. The men tried to flee, and a chase ended when the car went onto a grass verge.

A loaded semi-automatic pistol was thrown from the passenger window and found near the car. Gardaí also found black latex gloves, a black balaclava and a burner phone in the car. McBride claimed he had been asked to drive on the understanding that the gun was to be used to intimidate somebody in connection with drugs. He was a heavy cocaine user and had a drug debt.

Judge Greally said the firearm and ammunition were incompatible and could not inflict injury on that occasion. She said they may have been for intimidation, but may also have been intended for use beyond that.