A MAN who was watched by detectives as he collected two hand-guns and almost 100 rounds of ammunition has been jailed for six years and nine months by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Paul Shaun Mullen (35), married and the father of three children, of North Circular Road, refused to tell gardai for whom or what purpose the guns were intended.
He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm Browning and a Liama semi-automatic pistol as well as 98 rounds of ammunition in Navan Road, Blanchardstown, on December 22nd, 1994.
Det Insp Charles Byrne said a force of gardai staked out the car-park of a pub in the area on that date. At about 6 p.m., another man drove into the car park in a Ford Escort and left. Mullen then drove up in a white Nissan car and went into the pub. The first car returned and both men met in the car park.
Det Insp Byrne told prosecutor, Mr Desmond Zaiden, that Mullen was then seen getting into his own car carrying a tool box which he placed on the back seat. He was followed by two garda cars when he drove off.
The gardai stopped him and recovered the tool box which contained the guns and ammunition. Mullen made a statement saying he had met a chap" in the pub the previous night and he accepted full responsibility for the weapons.
Det Insp Byrne told Mr Zaiden that Mullen gave no explanation of why he had the guns and ammunition. He was a man who generally worked.
Defence counsel, Mr Patrick MacEntee SC (with Mr Felix McEnroy), said his client accepted the seriousness of the charge. He asked that his guilty plea and lack of violence when apprehended be taken into consideration in sentencing.
Judge Cyril Kelly said Mullen would have been given the maximum 10 years if convicted by a jury. The court had to take the points made by defence counsel into consideration, as well as to mark the seriousness of the charges.