The president of the Irish Medical Organisation had an unlicensed rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition hidden in his house, Judge Sean Delap was told in Swords District Court.
Dr Anthony J. Hynes (54), of Killeen Terrace, Malahide, had pleaded guilty to having a .22 LR Martini Henry action rifle with no serial number, as well as more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, without a firearms certificate.
Det-Sgt Gerard Feeney told the court that he searched Dr Hynes's house on June 27th. He found the rifle concealed in a window box in the front room and ammunition hidden in the stairwell. He found 595 unlicensed shotgun cartridges, 424 rounds of .22 rifle ammunition, 76 .270 deer rifle bullets and 51 other assorted bullets.
Sgt Feeney said that Dr Hynes had a licence for some ammunition, but had well over the legal amount. The rifle was a very old one, which had not been in recent use, but it had discharged two rounds in a test firing. Some of the ammunition was so old that it could not be licensed in the State, but it was still in good condition.
Judge Delap heard that Dr Hynes had got in extra ammunition for a family target and clay pigeon shooting event, but the shoot had been cancelled. The rifle and older ammunition was for curiosity purposes only.
The judge said: "I'm satisfied he was not a member of any illegal organisation or had them for a sinister purpose." He fined Dr Hynes £200 and confiscated the rifle and ammunition.