Wayne Lynch jailed for guns and cannabis offences

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

Wayne Lynch was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 July 2020 to four and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. The proceedings were reported on 17 July 2020.

Lynch pleaded guilty to possessing a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at the Lidl car park on Main Street, Tallaght, and possessing cannabis herb at his home in Drogheda. The offences occurred on 19 July 2019.

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne said gardaí followed Lynch’s bread van on 19 July 2019. Gardaí recovered two handguns and ammunition from under the passenger seat and cannabis herb valued at €35,606 from his home.

Lynch said he feared for his life over a drug debt and had been told to leave his van door open before returning to find the package. He said he never touched it but knew it was illegal, and was to get €1,000 off his debt for dropping it off. Detective Garda Kelly Finnegan said Lynch told gardaí he was also holding the drugs to reduce his debt.

Judge Elma Sheahan said it was accepted that Lynch was not a significant player in criminality and would not have used the guns, but that he was moving equipment during an ongoing feud which had claimed many lives.