A Kildare man tasked by senior criminal figures abroad to mind an “arsenal” of firearms and ammunition in the loft of a “fake” Dublin business premises has been sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court.

Four loaded weapons “primed, armed and ready” for use were among an arsenal of 15 firearms found at an “elaborate” industrial unit purporting to be a legitimate business.

A Ballyfermot man who was in financial difficulty, and wanted to move away from what he thought was a bad area in which to raise children, has been jailed for six years for possession of more than €700,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply.