The teenage brother of murdered Limerick gangland victim "Fat" Frankie Ryan has been jailed for five years for possession of an Israeli-manufactured "Desert Eagle" handgun.
Ger Ryan (18), Delmege Park, Moyross, Limerick, told gardaí that he bought the lethal weapon complete with ammunition for his own protection after his older brother was murdered as part of an ongoing violent feud.
Ryan pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to possession of the handgun and 10 rounds of .9mm ammunition at 54, Delmege Park, Moyross, on October 10th, 2006.
At a previous sitting the court heard that Ryan was just 17 years old when he bought the weapon from a man in Limerick city centre for €3,000.
The court heard the accused man's older brother Frankie Ryan was shot dead in Moyross on September 17th, 2006.
Before imposing the five-year sentence yesterday, Judge Carroll Moran said that possession of guns "in the present climate" could not be tolerated even for one's own protection.
Three other youths, including a juvenile, also pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to charges arising out of the same raid.
Alan Kelly (20), Delmege Park, Moyross, pleaded guilty to possession of 17 rounds of .32mm ammunition and 15 rounds of .99mm Lugar ammunition and was jailed for four years.
His brother, Gary Kelly (21), who lived at the house with his girlfriend, pleaded guilty to possession of four different types of ammunition and was jailed for two years.
A 17-year-old youth pleaded guilty to possession of an American manufactured Ruger Sp101.357 Magnum-type firearm.
The youth, who had been in custody for more than a year and who had no previous convictions, had his sentencing adjourned for 12 months and was ordered to be of good behaviour for that period.