Pair guilty after guns found in pencil case

Two Cork men have been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the possession of two loaded handguns found inside a pencil case.

Anthony Carroll, aged 30, of Curraheen Close, Bishopstown, and his co-accused Brian Walsh, aged 43, with an address at Connolly Rd, Ballyphehane, had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Walther pistol, a Smith & Wesson revolver and 12 rounds of ammunition at Deanrock Avenue, Togher, on February 23, 2013.

The non-jury court heard that the loaded Walther and Smith & Wesson handguns were found by gardaí inside a pencil case discovered in a van the men were stopped in. Evidence was heard that Mr Walsh was the driver of the van, while Mr Carroll was discovered by gardaí on the floor in the back, which was partitioned from the driver’s compartment by black plastic.