A Dublin man who pleaded guilty to having a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition was jailed for two years by the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
Det Supt Diarmuid O'Sullivan told the court that Philip Smith (36), of Moynihan Court, Tallaght, was one of three men who had armed themselves with shotguns after a dispute with the landlord of an apartment at Moynihan Court.
When gardaí entered the flat Smith pointed out a loaded sawn-off shotgun and two cartridges hidden under a mattress, and he took responsibility for the gun and ammunition.
Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, said that a very serious situation was prevented by the "prompt and courageous" action of the gardaí involved.
The court sentenced Smith to four years' imprisonment for possession of the shotgun and two years for having the ammunition, but suspended two years of the sentence because Smith had pleaded guilty and was not a hardened criminal.
Det Supt O'Sullivan said that the tenant of the flat, William Jordan, who died in a road accident earlier this year, had paid a deposit and one month's rent but had not paid any more rent.
When the landlord changed the locks of the apartment on July 2nd last year, Jordan had arranged for his friends, including Smith, to stay in the apartment and resist the landlord.
Det Supt O'Sullivan said gardaí also recovered another sawn-off shotgun which had been thrown out a window in the apartment.
He said that he had knocked at the apartment door, and after speaking to Jordan had gained admittance after Jordan removed material he was using to barricade the front door.
Smith admitted the unlawful possession of the double-barrelled, sawn-off shotgun and shotgun cartridges at Moynihan Court on July 4th last year.