Former soldier given three and a half years for possession of semi-automatic pistol and ammunition

A former Irish soldier was jailed for three and a half years by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today after he pleaded guilty to having a Glock semi-automatic pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition in Dunalk last year.

Thomas Kelly (aged 26), a father-of-two, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Glock semi-automatic pistol and 50 rounds of 9mm parabellum calibre ammunition at Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth on July 19 last year.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three judge court, said that Kelly had pleaded guilty to what the court regards as ``a most serious offence – possession of a lethal firearm’.’

The judge said that the court had taken into account Kelly’s early guilty plea and it sentenced him to five years' imprisonment but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.

Detective Garda Charlie Geoghegan told the court that gardaí who were keeping a pub car park in Dundalk under surveillance saw Kelly driving an Audi car in to the car park.

A short time later another car drove in and parked side by side with Kelly’s car. Kelly handed a Meteor phone box into the male passenger in the other car and walked quickly back to his own car.

Armed gardaí then moved in arrested the occupants of the two cars. The phone box was found to contain a Glock pistol and ammunition. There were two children in Kelly’s car and Kelly said after his arrest:: ``Can I see my kids? I know I don’t deserve it with what I’ve done.’’

Detective Garda Geoghegan said that Kelly has no previous convictions. He said Kelly had joined the army in 2005 and was stationed in Dundalk and Monaghan, but went AWOL (absent without leave) from the army in March 2008 until the time of his arrest. After his arrest he applied for a discharge from the army and was granted it.

Kelly gave an undertaking under oath that he would not associate with anyone associated with violence. He added: ``I am disgusted with myself. I was in fear when I was asked to deliver the box. I knew there was something wrong.’’