Woman had Glock pistol to shoot rats

A woman who claimed the reason she had a Glock 4.5mm calibre pistol was to shoot rats, appeared at last week's sitting of Tullamore district court.

In his evidence Sergeant Brian Jennings of Birr Garda Station said that the home of Kathleen Touhy of Drumbane, Birr, was searched on foot of a warrant on February 7, 2024. He said a Glock air pistol was found in a disassembled state in the hot press. He was told it was for killing vermin. ''It depends on what you consider vermin'' remarked Judge Andrew Cody.

Sergeant Jennings said the gun falls under the category of firearm as it was over one joule which makes it illegal.

Barrister for Ms Touhy said the house beside her had been empty for some time, it was overgrown and she couldn't keep up with the number of rats.

Judge Cody said there were far more sensible ways of killing vermin other than using a Glock. It's difficult to see how rat poison or a mouse trap wouldn't have done, he said.

After viewing a picture of the weapon, Judge Cody said it was a ''frightening looking gun'' and wondered if she was holding it for someone. He said he had difficulty accepting that it was being used for vermin. He asked Sergeant Jennings if he thought the gun was for rats of the ''four legged variety.''Sergeant Jennings said that neither Ms Touhy nor her family had ever been in trouble before. But he said you would want to be a master marksman to kill rats with it.

Barrister for Ms Touhy said Kathleen Touhy is a 58 year old woman who lives with her partner and daughter. He said there was no malice behind the purchase of the gun and she apologised to the court. She is not working.

Judge Cody imposed a fine of €400 and gave the defendant six months to pay, he ordered the destruction of the gun.