A man found with a Glock pistol in his sock and a shotgun hidden behind a toilet in his home has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Richard Brady (21), who has four previous convictions including one under the firearms act for carrying a knife, told gardaí his life was in danger and he was involved in the “Drimnagh feud” through people he knew.
Brady, of Mourne Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of semi-automatic pistol at Crumlin Road, Crumlin and possession of a modified shotgun with a silencer at Mourne Road on March 21st, 2009.
Judge Tony Hunt at suspended the final four years for six years on strict conditions, including one year of supervised probation. He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the guns.
Garda Mark Doran told the court that he was on mobile patrol in Crumlin early in the morning when he observed three youths and formed a suspicion that Brady, who was known to him, was carrying drugs.
He saw one of the youths throw something under a car and when it was retrieved it was found to contain two rounds of ammunition. He searched Brady and found a pistol in his right sock with a bullet in the breech.
Brady told gardaí his life was in danger and he had the gun for his own protection.
Gda Doran said a number of houses were searched, including Brady’s home. During the first search of his home they found a spent bullet at the foot of the stairs and during a follow-up visit they found a sawn-off shotgun hidden behind a toilet.
The firearms were examined by ballistics experts and found to be in good working order. The serial number of the Glock pistol found in Brady’s sock had been deliberately removed.
Brady told gardaí his life was in danger from persons unknown, that his house had been attacked and he had received death threats in notes through his door and by word of mouth. Gda Doran said gardaí had no record of these incidents being reported
Brady later told gardaí that he was involved in the “Drimnagh feud” through people he knew and had the gun for protection. He subsequently said he had been asked to deliver the gun to a certain point for payment. He said he had not been intending to shoot anyone.