The Special Criminal Court in Dublin today jailed a man for five years after he pleaded guilty to having guns and ammunition at his home in Dublin.
Gerard Burns, (45) with an address at Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin, admitted having two sawn-off shotguns, a revolver, 109 shotgun cartridges and five rounds of revolver ammunition in suspicious circumstances at his home on June 15th last.
Det Sgt Walter O'Sullivan, of Fitzgibbon St Garda Station, told the court he led a search party from Fitzgibbon Street and Mountjoy Garda stations at Burns's home.
The guns and ammunition were discovered in two packages in a closet in Burns's bedroom and he was arrested. He later made a statement to gardaí in which he took full responsibility for the guns and ammunition.
Det Sgt O'Sullivan said the shotguns had been stolen in two different burglaries in Dundalk and Kells and the barrels were later sawn off.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding, said that in the absence of any explanation from Burns the court must take a very serious view of the offences and sentenced Burns to five years to date from the date of his arrest last June.