Cork man charged with possession of firearms would have stored 'a nuclear bomb' to clear gambling debt

Defendant admitted owing a gambling debt of €6,500 and he had agreed to store the guns for two days for which he would have the debt reduced by €150, court heard

Gardaí objected to bail due to the seriousness of the charges but the judge granted bail on conditions. Picture: Larry Cummins

A slam-bang shotgun, a semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition were allegedly stored by a middle-aged Cork man who said on Friday he would have stored “a nuclear bomb” as he was under so much pressure to clear a gambling debt.

Detective Garda Jeremy Murphy of the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad gave evidence of arresting 54-year-old James Cregan, charging and cautioning him and that the accused made no reply.

Judge David Waters made an order that the defendant’s address should not be published. James Cregan is charged with four separate firearms offences arising out of the search of a premises in Cork on November 5. 

The charges are of possession of an improvised slam-bang shotgun, 12 gauge shotgun cartridges, a semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition.

The detective said gardaí were objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges, as both firearms had been examined by Garda ballistics experts and deemed to be firearms under the act and he pointed out the handgun had a bullet in the firing mechanism and three in the magazine.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley said the defendant admitted owing a gambling debt of €6,500 and he had agreed to store the guns for two days for which he would have the debt reduced by €150. He said he stored them much longer because he owed so much.

“I have grave concerns that if granted bail, he will continue to engage in serious criminality — he said himself he was under such serious pressure over his gambling debt that if he was given a nuclear bomb, he would have taken it,” Det Garda Murphy said.

Judge David Waters acknowledged it was a serious matter, but he granted bail on conditions.

The defendant is required to reside at a named address and notify gardaí of any change of address, keep a 10pm to 8am curfew, sign on daily at Bridewell Garda Station and provide gardaí with a mobile phone on which is contactable at all times. He was remanded on bail until December 4.