Asked gardaí where his air rifle was after arrest

A 32-year-old man who was charged with possession of an air rifle believed he didn’t need a licence for it as one wasn’t needed in his native Lithuania.

Aurimas Bagdonas appeared before Sligo District Court charged with possession of a firearm at Market Yard on October 13th, 2018 and possession of cannabis on Markievicz Road on July 22nd, 2019.

A third offence of possession of a knife was withdrawn by the state.

The court was told gardaí travelled to the Market Yard where a number of men were fighting. Bagdonas and another man were arrested and brought to Ballymote Garda Station.

Following their arrests, a search was conducted at the scene in the Market Yard and a Umarex Walther CP99 compact type air gun was discovered in four pieces.

The gun was removed by gardaí and sent to the ballistics section of An Garda Síochána and was deemed to be a firearm.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court after his release, Bagdonas later asked gardaí where the air gun was and admitted ownership.

Asked by Judge Kevin Kilrane if the air gun had been used as a weapon or by way of defence or offence, Sergeant Butler said he was not aware of this and said witnesses were no longer in the jurisdiction.

Solicitor, Mr Tom MacSharry, representing Bagdonas, said his client had previously pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, a charge relating to the fracas.

The court was told Bagdonas had a further four previous convictions, including a second conviction for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, two charges of intoxication, and a road traffic matter.

Mr MacSharry told the court his client did not know he needed a licence for the gun as in his native Lithuania a licence was not needed.

The solicitor said his client had since made amends with the other man and had been a hard worker before Covid-19.

Judge Kevin Kilrane noted Bagdonas’ age and commented that he was no longer a teenager and should leave behind his interest in air guns.

The judge said a conviction for firearm possession was a serious one that would had serious implications for Bagdonas, including precluding him from travel to such countries as the United States.

Bearing this in mind, the judge put the matter back to December 10 th next for finalisation. Judge Kilrane said if everything was in order on that date and Bagdonas had not come to any garda attention he would deal with it by way of the Probation Act.

In relation to the cannabis charge on Markievicz Roadd on July 22nd, 2019, where Bagdonas was found in possession of €50 worth of cannabis, the Probation Act was applied.