Vincent Ryan acquitted of firearms possession

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

Vincent Ryan was found not guilty of possessing an AKM assault rifle and a Webley-make revolver at the Special Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 24 October 2013.

The charge related to the alleged possession of the firearms at Clonshaugh Walk, Coolock, Dublin 17, on 15 September 2011. Vincent Ryan had pleaded not guilty.

The court heard that DNA matching Mr Ryan was found on an AK-47-style magazine recovered near a Saab car. Under cross-examination, Dr Fiona Thornton agreed the incomplete, low-level profile could have reached the magazine through secondary or tertiary transfer, as well as direct contact, and said she could not scientifically establish when it was deposited.

Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the evidence was not consistent only with guilt and noted that the magazine was not included in the charge. The prosecution submitted that the accused were in constructive possession of items in the car boot and that the case was strong enough to proceed.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said the time and place were vital to the charges and that the DNA evidence allowed several reasonable explanations, including secondary, tertiary or fourth-hand transfer. He ruled that the evidence could not support a conviction and directed that Vincent Ryan be found not guilty.