‘Bizarre case’ of woman and gun

The circumstances in which a Limerick woman was found with a powerful submachinegun were the most “bizarre and bewildering” a judge had ever come across.

Judge Tom O’Donnell made his comments at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday where Celine O’Riordan, a 32-year-old mother of one, had pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a Mac 10 submachinegun and 13 rounds of ammunition.

The court heard the Mac 10 is the preferred weapon of choice “of the criminal classes”.

Evidence had been given by Det Sgt Derek Clancy, Mayorstone station, that on searching Ms O’Riordan’s home in Cliona Park, Moyross, on July 19, 2013, gardaí discovered a plastic bag in a refuse bin at the back of the house. Inside the plastic bag was a pillow case and inside this was a white bag in which they found the submachinegun and ammunition.

Ms O’Riordan was heavily in debt over her mortgage at the time and decided to store the gun for money.

She was frightened to give the name of the person who handed the gun to her, but had been very helpful to gardaí, who accepted she had acted under duress.

Det Sgt Clancy said the Mac 10 resembled a mini-Uzi and was the preferred weapon of choice of the criminal classes.

As a result of what she had done, Ms O’Riordan’s marraige broke up and she had moved to live with her family in the Castleconnell area.

Psychological evidence was given that Ms O’Riordan was a person of low intelligence and easily led.

The prosecution accepted she was targeted and preyed upon.

Judge O’Donnell said the Mac 10 was a most insidious and harmful weapon. The case he said was the most bizarre and bewildering he had encountered since becoming a judge.

Imposing a four-year suspended jail sentence, Judge O’Donnell told Ms O’Riordan: “I am giving you a chance, take it.”