Explanation for having boxes of ammunition in wardrobe ‘doubtful’ says judge

A MAN who had two boxes of ammunition in the wardrobe of his home was given a suspended sentence at Trim Circuit Court.

Twenty-one-year old Bradley Hannah with an address at Mornington pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 14th September 2020.

The court heard that two boxes containing a total of 50 rounds of shotgun ammunition were found when gardai were searching the premises on an unrelated matter.

The defendant admitted responsibility for the ammunition at the scene.

He claimed a colleague who held a gun licence had previously brought them to work as they had intended to go shooting after work but then hadn't.

He said the boxes had been left in his car and he found them when cleaning it out sometime later and he put them in the house where they remained for 18 months to two years as he had forgotten about them.

The court heard he had not told gardai who had given him the ammunition as he didn't want to get the other person into trouble.

A defence barrister said his client accepted he had made a stupid, immature mistake.

Judge Terence O'Sullivan said he was concerned that Hannah had not identified the person who allegedly held the firearms cert.

“His explanation though plausible did not help gardai assess his lack of culpability. I find his explanation doubtful”, said the judge.

Judge O'Sullivan also said he was troubled by a probation report which noted the defendant felt victimised by gardai as there was no evidence of this.

The probation report assessed the defendant at low risk of re-offending and the Judge imposed a sentence of two-and-a-half years which he suspended in full.