Gardaí hail conviction of two caught ‘red handed’ with guns

Two Dublin men caught who were caught “red handed” with loaded guns and a can of petrol with “an intent to endanger life” have been jailed for 12 and 10 years.

Anthony Callaghan (45) and Paul Zambra (39) were caught following a three day surveillance operation by specialist gardaí.

Speaking after the sentencing, Supt Tony Howard said: “This is one of the most significant convictions in quite some time.

“These are two very dangerous criminals who have been removed from society for a number of years.”

Callaghan, of Millrace Road, Phoenix Park Racecourse, and Zambra, of Inagh Road, Ballyfermot, both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a Ruger Revolver and semi-automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Clonshaugh Avenue, Coolock on May 29th last.

The men were stopped by gardaí­ who mounted a surveillance operation in the Coolock area and a search of the BMW driven by Zambra yielded two firearms and a full petrol can.

Callaghan’s previous convictions include attempted robbery and possession of a firearm. Zambra has convictions for robbery, larceny and road traffic offences

Judge Melanie Greally said the men were caught “red handed” and although she accepted that they pleaded guilty, she described the evidence against the men as “overwhelming”.

She said Zambra was a man with “a history of violent crime” and that Callaghan has previously been jailed for firearm offences connected with a robbery.

Judge Greally said guns when discovered by gardaí­ were “optimal readiness for use” and their capacity to endanger life was “considerable”. She accepted there was no evidence as to why the men had the weapons but added “the venture for their intended use was imminent”.

‘Public interest’

Judge Greally sentenced Callaghan to 12 years in prison and Zambra to 10 years after commenting that there was “a significant public interest in deterring firearm offences”.

Detective Garda Glen Somers agreed with Sean Guerin SC, defending Callaghan, that when his client was stopped he was driving away from the Riverside area. He agreed that there were no other outstanding matters in which Callaghan was a suspect.

Mr Guerin submitted there was case law outlining a clear distinction between an intent to endanger life and intent to kill. He asked the court to also take into account his client’s early guilty plea.

He said that whatever had been afoot, Callaghan had been driving away from “the scene” when he was stopped by gardaí­ and there was no evidence of evasive manoeuvres.

Michael O’Higgins SC, defending Zambra, said his client was a father of one who was separated from his partner. He had a “fairly serious” drug problem since he was 16-years old but there was no suggestion his involvement in this offence was due to his drug history.

He submitted that while the court might infer from the sightings of the vehicles in the area that there was an intent to endanger life in the environs this was different from an intent to seriously injure or kill.

Mr O’Higgins said Zambra has applied himself well while in custody and asked the court to take into account his prompt guilty plea.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Supt Tony Howard described it as “one of the most significant operations” of recent years.

“You only have to think back a number of weeks ago when we had a serious incident in the north side of the city so we would see any operation that takes firearms off the streets and takes criminals of the calibre of the people we have convicted today, that’s a significant day,” he said.

“This was a major operation which was planned. It was conducted by a number of specialised units but primarily by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. It took place over three days. There was a huge amount of assets and resources deployed.”

“The public should be satisfied and happy that they have an organisation that have both the capacity and capability to tackle organised crime and I know I have been quoted before as saying no criminal should think that they are untouchable.”