‘Paranoid’ drug user jailed over guns and bulletproof vest found in raid at Limerick home

A LIMERICK man who had two rifles and a bulletproof vest at his home has been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Michael O’Callaghan, aged 23, with an address at Distillery View, Thomondgate in the city had pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition, an improvised firearm and two rifles under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

During a sentencing hearing, Limerick Circuit Court heard that on February 22, 2023, gardaí carried out a search of Mr O’Callaghan’s residence in Thomondgate.

In the upstairs bedroom of the property, they found two black air rifles and an improvised firearm which was hidden in the sleeve of a coat jacket.

A bulletproof vest and one round of ammunition were also discovered by gardai during the search.

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Mr O’Callaghan was arrested and during interview he subsequently admitted to being the owner of the items.

Imposing sentence, Judge Colin Daly noted the firearm did not fire when tested by ballistics experts.

The judge also noted there was no evidence that any of the weapons were used or brandished by Mr O’Callaghan at any point.

The court heard the accused had admitted he was a drug user and that he had been receiving threats in relation to outstanding debts he owed at the time.

Mr O’Callaghan told gardaí he had acquired the weapons because he was paranoid and feared for his safety.

Having considered the evidence and submissions, Judge Daly said that Mr O’Callaghan had high culpability, given he had sought out the weapons for his own use.

However, he noted that it didn’t appear he had acquired them for any other “more sinister reason”.

In mitigation, Judge Daly highlighted the accused’s early guilty plea and its value to gardaí, the State and the court - in terms of money and time.

He said what had occurred was a “serious matter” but that Mr O’Callaghan had co-operated fully with investigating gardaí.

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The court heard that the man has since “cleaned himself up” after he spent a period living in England with his grandfather.

The judge noted the remorse expressed by Mr O'Callaghan in a letter of apology penned by the accused.

After formally convicting Mr O’Callaghan, Judge Daly imposed a four-year prison sentence, with the final year suspended for a period of six years.