Gardaí wait on ruling over objections to military-style weapons

By Sean O’Riordan

Friday, January 08, 2010

GARDAÍ will have to wait until next Tuesday for a court decision on their objection to the licensing of high-powered military police-style weapons.

Gardaí in Cork were the first in the country to object to members of the public holding such weapons, amid fears that they could be stolen by criminal gangs.

Gardaí have already won one case following a judgment in Cork District Court on November 30 last when Judge David Riordan refused a shooting enthusiast the right to licences for six handguns.

They included two Sig Sauer semi-automatics and four Smith and Wesson revolvers.

However, gardaí have made around 50 objections to gun licence applications in the county and it is expected that the majority of shooting enthusiasts will appeal these to the courts.

The second contested case was heard by Judge Michael Pattwell in north Cork last Tuesday.

He sat through a marathon nine-hour session during which he heard arguments from both the gardaí and the gun enthusiast’s solicitor.

Judge Pattwell said he would make his decision known next Tuesday.

He also put a number of restrictions on press reporting. These included not identifying the holder of the firearms.

Gardaí have said they regard the gun enthusiasts as being of good character, but are concerned that criminals will try and steal their weapons. Legislation was introduced on August 1 last which was aimed at tightening up the law on firearms.

This formed the basis for the objections lodged by Chief Superintendent Michael Finn who won the case on November 30 last – the first of its type in the country. At the time, he told Cork District Court that gardaí were concerned about the proliferation of such weapons.

He said he didn’t have an issue with granting licences for shotguns and rifles but was concerned about powerful handguns. Chief Supt Finn told that court sitting that he had to take into consideration public safety because of the threat of criminal gangs stealing such weapons.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, January 08, 2010