Charges against a Co Galway woman have been dropped in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Ms Jacqueline McIntyre (33) from Spiddal, with an address at Knock Holiday Homes, Inverin, Co Galway, was charged with possessing three Ruger .357 Magnum revolvers, three Glock semiautomatic pistols and 120 rounds of ammunition last July 27th. She was arrested during a Garda investigation into a plot to smuggle guns into Ireland by post from the United States.
An earlier court hearing was told that Ms McIntyre has been living in rented accommodation in Inverin with her infant baby and had spent nine days visiting the baby's father in Florida last June. The court also heard she had lived in the US for 31/2 years. Yesterday, the Assistant State Solicitor, Ms Eithne Muldoon, told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the charges against Ms McIntyre should be withdrawn.
Her solicitor, Mr Michael McDarby, said he had received a letter from gardai in Mill Street in Galway in September in relation to how the investigation was being carried out. He had written to the DPP's office seeking an explanation as to what was going on and he asked the court also to seek an explanation.
Mr McDarby said he believed it was "too serious a matter" to allow the charges to be withdrawn without an explanation. Mr Justice Morris said the court had no jurisdiction on that and would strike out the charges. After the brief hearing, Ms McIntyre left with her solicitor and refused to speak to reporters.