Man (24) jailed after walking streets with ‘realistic’ imitation AK-47

A YOUNG man who was caught walking around with an imitation AK-47 assault rifle has been handed a two-and-a-half-year sentence.

Det Gda Michael Harkin said the fake Kalashnikov that Eoin Berkeley (24) had in his possession was “the most realistic” of its kind his colleagues had ever seen. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardaí received multiple calls about a man walking around near Dublin Airport and Santry with what looked like a firearm.

Det Gda Harkin said Berkeley immediately shouted that the gun was a fake when approached from behind at Northwood Avenue, Santry.

Berkeley, of Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, pleaded guilty to possessing a realistic firearm in a public place on May 29, 2016. He had 24 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court and dating from 2013 to 2017.

Det Gda Harkin told Dara Hayes, prosecuting, that Berkeley told him he had found the gun in fields and that it was not real. The detective said Garda colleagues forensically examined the device, which turned out to be an airgun capable of discharging 6mm ball bearings.

He said he confiscated the imitation gun from Berkeley at the scene and told him he was free to leave the area. He was later arrested at his mother’s home.

The court heard that Berkeley took up bail, but this was revoked, and to date he has spent 18 months in custody on the charge.

John Fitzgerald, defending, told Judge Melanie Greally that his client had been placed into a foster home when he was four years old because his mother had her own difficulties.

The judge said the “punitive element” of the case had largely been addressed due to the length of time Berkeley had spent in custody already on the matter.

She noted that he had not presented in court expressing a desire for rehabilitation but just to have the case finalised. She imposed a two-and-a-halfyear sentence, with credit given to the time Berkeley has spent in custody.