Dubliner posted a bullet through woman’s letterbox

A DUBLIN man who posted a bullet through a woman’s letterbox and admitted storing a firearm on behalf of the Real IRA has been given a suspended sentence.

Greg Doyle, aged 33, of Cushlawn Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the illegal possession of a firearm and making a threat to kill on August 19, 2010, at addresses in the Tallaght area.

Garda Michael McHugh of Tallaght Garda Station agreed with defence counsel Bernard Condon that Doyle had posted the bullet through the woman’s letterbox in a case of mistaken identity.

Gda McHugh told Judge Martin Nolan that Doyle had intended the bullet for the woman’s ex-husband who owed him a sum of money and had given two cheques that bounced.

Gda McHugh executed a warrant to search the accused’s home where a handgun, shotgun cartridges, pepper spray and a balaclava were discovered.

Doyle made immediate admissions to gardaí and directed them to where he had hidden the items.

He told officers he was asked to store the guns and other items by members of the Real IRA.

Doyle told the court he would never associate with any member of any criminal group again and made a “full and wholesome apology” to his victim.

Judge Nolan said he belie-ved Doyle was a vulnerable being used by others.

He handed down a sentence of five and three years suspended in their entirely for five years.