Man found with firearm

An Ashford man appeared in Bray District Court in connection with the seizure of a firearm on the N11.

Brian Lucey (41) with an address in Ashford, was charged with possession of a firearm as well as possession of drugs on Sunday, March 8.

Detective Garda Gary Dunne of Shankill Garda Station said he arrested the accused at the station the previous evening at 8.30 p.m. and he was charged by Sgt Damien Deegan at 9.18 p.m.

After the second charge he responded ‘it’s all for personal use, it’s not for selling. I use cannabis for back pain,’ Garda Dunne told the court.

Lucey’s solicitor Jonathan Dunphy said that his client’s wife and mother were in court.

He said that his client suffers fromchronicbackpain. Hehasno previous warrant history.

The court heard that the allegation stems from the discovery of a firearm in the foot-well of a car on the N11 outside Shankill, alleged to have occurred on Sunday, March 8.

Detective Garda Dunne said that gardai were objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the charges.

He said however that certain conditions would be acceptable.

They included that he surrender his passport, sign on weekly at Wicklow Garda Station, provide a mobile phone number and be contactable at all times. He also asked for the condition that Lucey follow medical advice and that he not self-medicate.

Judge David Kennedy granted bail and adjourned the matter to June 8 for the instructions of the DPP and forensic analysis.