Arms trial ends as men plead guilty

THE trial of two men for conspiring to acquire rocket launchers, Kalashnikovs and other guns took a dramatic turn at Circuit Criminal Court in Cork yesterday when they pleaded guilty and were sentenced to seven and three years respectively.

Glen Geasley, aged 27, of 10 Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, was jailed for 12 years, with the last five years suspended by Judge Patrick J Moran. Seán Callinan, aged 21, of 11 Pearse Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly, who played a lesser part in the crime, was given a six-year sentence, half of it to be suspended.

Judge Moran noted both defendants had pleaded guilty to conspiring to possessing arms for an unlawful purpose.

“This was a matter which could have had very serious consequences for the people of this country. You acted as agents for a known criminal gang — a criminal organisation. It is fortunate there was such wonderful intelligence available to the authorities and that they were able to have the assistance of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in England. With that, they were able to bring the two of you to justice.

“There was a considerable amount of arms and cash of £45,000 to be used for payment [that money was forfeited to the State yesterday].

“There is no doubt there was a difference in your respective roles. Glen Geasley, you were there from the start to secure the delivery of arms to this country. Seán Callinan, you were a much lesser player in the game, but you were still involved in it.

“I want to commend the Garda officers and the officers of SOCA who did so much in bringing these two men to justice,” said Judge Moran.

While the jury was sworn in on February 11, the trial did not open until February 13. On that day, Tom O’Connell senior counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the State would allege that Geasley told undercover agents that he was representing Wayne Dundon, and that he needed all the weapons “for a war in Limerick between Wayne’s people and their enemies”.

In contrast yesterday, when Mr O’Connell led Chief Superintendent Tony Quilter through the background to the case, there was no reference to any named group.

The defence had claimed entrapment and that the accused were set up. But they were unsuccessful in a key part of their legal argument where they sought to have evidence included of what had taken place in the weeks before a London meeting between Geasley and undercover agents.