Eight years jail for Limerick criminal caught red-handed with loaded pistol

A LIMERICK man caught red-handed by gardai with a semi-automatic pistol with a round in the chamber, and with €10,000 worth of drugs on a separate date, has been jailed for eight years.

Craig O’Donnell, aged 27, of O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick pleaded guilty to the possession of a converted 9mm semi-automatic pistol and possession of 9mm calibre ammunition at Bishop Street, Limerick city on Thursday, June 27 in suspicious circumstances.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court prior to Christmas.

Judge Colin Daly, giving sentence, said gardai observed O’Donnell late at night on a scrambler bike wearing dark clothes and a face covering.

“They considered him to be acting suspiciously. They gave chase, stopped him and searched him under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition - the firearm was a converted 9mm semi-automatic pistol and several rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition including one round in the chamber,” said Judge  Daly.

Garda Stephen McEntegart had previously given evidence in the district court when O’Donnell was charged that he was on patrol at  Island Road, Limerick city on Thursday, June 27 at 11.38pm.

“I observed a male on an electric scrambler wearing a balaclava with his hood up and wearing red and black gloves. I attempted to stop him. He abandoned the bike and fled on foot. After a short foot chase I arrested him on Bishop Street,” said Garda McEntegart.

In considering the gravity of the offence, Judge Daly said while the firearm may not have been brandished during the course of the interaction “a pistol is obviously to be used in criminality generally”. 

“The defence (Liam Carroll BL) suggests there was no evidence the defendant was going to use the firearm. He was caught red -handed with ammunition in the chamber and other rounds of ammunition found.

“The aggravating factors are previous convictions for an aggravated burglary with a knife and robbery while carrying a firearm,” said Judge Daly.

In mitigation, the judge said O’Donnell comes forward on signed pleas although that is tempered by the fact he was caught red-handed.

“He is the father of two young children aged nine and one. He has spent a considerable period of his young adult life in custody. He is doing well in prison,” said Judge Daly, who imposed a seven year jail sentence.

The judge noted O’Donnell was on bail at the time of the firearm charges after being caught with €10,000 worth of cannabis on an earlier date.

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Judge Daly said O’Donnell had recently been released from prison when he was found with the drugs in his possession.

“Defence suggested that he was under pressure due to a drug debt but there is no actual evidence to support this contention,” said Judge Daly, who imposed a three year jail sentence for possession of cannabis for sale or supply.

Judge Daly said the seven year jail sentence and three year prison term are to run consecutively. He suspended the final two years of the 10 year sentence and backdated it to June 27, 2024 when O’Donnell first entered custody.