Former government aide Phil Flynn today agreed to pay €5,000 to charity after a miniature gun and ammunition were found in a desk drawer in his office in Dublin.
Escaping conviction at Richmond District Court, Mr Flynn (65) admitted having a pen gun and two tear gas cartridges. Mr Flynn, a lifelong trade unionist and former vice president of Sinn Féin, agreed to donate the money to a local priest.
He will have no criminal record.
Judge Anne Ryan told the court the only sentencing options open to her were a €250 fine or 12 months in prison.
But given Mr Flynn's high profile role in industrial relations the judge said a conviction and sentencing would interfere with his work.
After considering testimonials for almost 20 minutes, Judge Ryan said: "The fine open to the court is €253.95 and the court considers that in all circumstances that a fine if imposed would interfere with Mr Flynn's livelihood, I'm taking all these matters into account, the court will accept a contribution," she said.
Mr Flynn agreed to pay the €5,000 to Fr Peter McVerry, a priest who works with young offenders, today.
Mr Flynn sat in the dock throughout the hearing, but did not give evidence.
The court was told that officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Garda Fraud Squad raided his officers on Harcourt Street, Dublin, on February 17th, 2005, and found a pen gun and mini gas cartridges in the top left-hand drawer of a desk.
It was concealed in a small green tin box. The court was told the antique weapon was made around 70 years ago but had the capability to fire ammunition.
The court heard it is an offence to be in possession of the weapon without a licence under the 1972 Firearms Act.
Gda Sergeant James Costello showed the gun to the judge, saying: "This is a particularly dangerous weapon within the meaning of the Minister for Justices' order of 1972, a single-shot pistol.
"Within its type it is probably a particularly dangerous weapon in regard to its design and functionality. A single shot point 3.8, and it is designed for concealment."