Convicted robber who stole from arms dealer sees sentence reduced

A convicted bank robber who stole more than 40 guns from an arms dealer in Co Tipperary will spend less time in prison following an appeal.

Alan Freeman, previously of Deansrath Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 failed to get his conviction quashed, but will be released two years earlier.

In the early hours of Jan 9, 2009, three masked men broke into the home of a licensed firearms dealer near Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Tipperary.

The dealer, his partner, her daughter and a family friend were threatened with a sawn-off shotgun and locked in a gun safe for hours.

The gang made off with 42 weapons.

Alan Freeman, who is 34, admitted stealing the guns three weeks into his trial and was jailed for seven years.

That became a 13-year sentence after a previously suspended sentence for a bank robbery in Abbeyleix, Co Laois was activated.

His lawyers appealed the conviction for the gun theft, but that was dismissed today.

They also argued his combined sentence was excessive and did not give full consideration to the principle of totality, which applies when multiple sentences are imposed.

The three-judge panel agreed and suspended the final two years of Mr Freeman’s sentence.