Two men jailed for six years after gardaí found guns inside pencil case

A stone mason and fluent French speaker and another man have been sentenced to six years by the Special Criminal Court for the possession of two loaded handguns found inside a pencil case.

Brian Walsh, aged 44, and Anthony Carroll, aged 31, were wearing forensic suits when the van they were in was searched by gardaí on Deanrock Avenue in Togher, Cork, on February 23 last year.

Walsh, with an address at Connolly Rd, Ballyphehane, and Carroll, of Curaheen Close, Bishopstown, had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Walther pistol, a Smith & Wesson revolver, and 12 rounds of ammunition.