Two years for father who transported stolen firearms

An alcoholic father-of-four caught transporting stolen firearms has been jailed for two years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Jason Sweeney, aged 34, of Kilmahuddrick Lawn, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of firearms and one of handling stolen property at Balgaddy Road on January 3, 2006.

A co-accused, Eamon Carlin, aged 44, a separated father of five, of Pettis Wood Manor, Mullingar, County Westmeath, was sentenced to two years imprisonment last March by Judge Delahunt.

Carlin claimed he had bought the guns to use in sporting activities with his children but admitted he had no licence for them.

Judge Delahunt today said she believed both men to be "equally culpable on all counts" and sentenced Sweeney to two years imprisonment.

Detective Garda Robert Comerford told Ms Roisin Lacey BL, prosecuting, that gardaí were aware two shotguns had been stolen from a house in The Naul in October 2005.

Det Gda Comerford said two gardaí in a patrol car noticed a white transit van parked in Clondalkin at around 8 p.m on January 3, 2006.

Two men were seen walking away from the passenger side of the van which then drove on before gardaí signalled for it to stop.

Carlin was driving and told gardaí he was looking for his dog. Sweeney told gardai that a soft case visible though the window contained a snooker que but upon opening it gardai found a double barrel shotgun.

A search of the van yielded another shotgun in a case under the passenger seat.

Det Gda Comerford said the weapons were later identified as those taken during the burglary at

The Naul and were sporting firearms which had been used by their owner for clay pigeon shooting.

Mr Miceál O'Connor BL, defending Sweeney, said his client, who has no previous convictions, was a tiler who suffered from a serious alcohol problem but had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and was now "dry" for four years.

He said Sweeny was a family man who had been going through a difficult time emotionally and was "deeply remorseful" for his actions. He said Sweeny had not come to garda attention since this incident and wished to "get on with his life in a lawful manner."