A Dublin man has been given a three year suspended sentence for possessing a sawn-off shotgun he claimed he bought for protection from another person.
Jason Dillon (33) of Reuben Street, Dolphins Barn, had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the gun in the boot of his car outside his house on September 8th, 2006.
Dillon told gardai he had bought the double barrel shotgun for protection but had not taken it out of his car boot, had no ammunition and did nott think he would ever use it.
Garda Michael Redmond agreed with Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, that gardai had taken his client’s concern for his safety seriously and that he hadn’t come to Garda attention since.
Gda Redmond told the court he and his colleagues went to Dillon’s address with a warrant and found the firearm wrapped in a green balaclava in his car boot.
Dillon was interviewed at the scene and signed a memo containing his full admissions to gardai. He told them he paid €450 for the gun five weeks previously.
Mr O Lideadha submitted that his client was father to a sick child and was a great help to other family members who were suffering from cancer.
Judge Patricia Ryan took into account the favourable probation report before the court. She said he had taken full responsibility for his actions and there had been “extreme threats to both him and his family”.
Judge Ryan sentenced Dillon to three years in prison which she suspended on strict conditions.