Four illegal handguns seized in Ballymun: two men remanded in custody

Two men face firearms charges after four loaded 9mm handguns and over 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered in Ballymun. Both were remanded in custody by Dublin District Court.

Four loaded handguns found at Ballymun property as two men face firearms charges

RTÉ News reports that two men have been remanded in custody after four fully automatic 9mm handguns and more than 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered at a property in Doon Court, Ballymun, earlier this week.

David Savage, 34, of no fixed abode, and Anthony Duff, 51, of Doon Court in Poppintree, Ballymun, were arrested on Wednesday following reports of a man in possession of firearms in the Belclare area of Poppintree.

Gardaí from the Ballymun Drugs Unit, assisted by Serious Crime West Units and local units, responded to the initial reports and subsequently detained both men under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

Garda Keith Crawley of Ballymun Garda Station told a sitting of Dublin District Court that the four Grand Power 9mm handguns were found in a white plastic bag at the Doon Court property. One of the weapons had a round already chambered and was described as "ready to fire". The Garda Ballistics Section confirmed all four guns were "viable firearms".

Each man faces four counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances under Section 27(a) of the Firearms Act 1964.

Garda Marie Ruddy of Ballymun Garda Station told the court that Savage was charged at 7.21pm on Thursday at Ballymun Garda Station. He made no reply to the first three charges after caution, and after the fourth he queried the number of charges brought against him.

Savage told the court he wished to apply for bail but was "not in a position to apply" without a solicitor, citing an ongoing protest by solicitors against a new legal aid scheme introduced earlier this year. No solicitors were present at the sitting. Judge Conor Fottrell granted Savage free legal aid and remanded him in custody.

Duff was charged at 6.47pm on Thursday. Garda Crawley told the court that after caution, Duff replied to the first charge: "I have no firearms in my possession, I am innocent of all charges." He gave similar responses to the remaining three charges.

Garda Crawley objected to Duff's bail application. Judge Fottrell asked Duff whether he was willing to proceed without a solicitor, to which Duff replied: "Yeah, I feel I am able to do that." He proceeded to represent himself and was sworn in as a witness.

Judge Fottrell refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997, informing Duff that he could appeal the decision to the High Court. He granted Duff free legal aid and remanded him in custody.

Both men are next due to appear before Cloverhill District Court, sitting in the Criminal Courts of Justice building, on Friday, 11 September.

Source: RTÉ News