Man ‘bought gun on internet in interest of public safety’

A North Louth man admitted to Gardai he had bought a pistol and ammunition on the internet, the Special Criminal Court was told last week.

After his admission Owen McCann brought detectives to where he had hidden the gun and one round of ammunition on family land. McCann (36), of Annaloughan, Jenkinstown pleaded guilty last November to possession of a .22 calibre sporting pistol, a conversion kit for pistols and two ammunition magazines at Jenkinstown on December 17 2015.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of one round of .22 calibre ammunition. A detective from the Special Detective Unit said members of the unit searched land owned by the McCann family in December 2015.

Gardai discovered a large quantity of firearms, ammunition and components for explosive devices at different locations. Gardai told the family they wanted to speak to Owen McCann and he presented himself at Dundalk station with his solicitor.

The detective said the finding of the firearms, ammunition and explosive components was not part of the case against McCann but was ‘ background’.

During interviews McCann said that he had bought a firearm on eBay using a PayPal account. He told Gardai that he wanted to ‘ take it out of circulation’ in the interest of public safety and he then brought gardai to where he had hidden a pistol and ammunition.

The detective agreed with defence counsel that McCann had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and that he had no previous convictions. McCann was remanded in in custody for sentencing on January 30.