Man (23) refused bail after rifle and ammunition seized in Cork

A 23-year-old man has been remanded in custody in Cork after he was charged with being in possession of rifle and 81 rounds of ammunition.

Zac O’Leary of Palmbury Orchard in Togher, Cork appeared before Cork District Court on Sunday morning, where he was charged with being in possession of the .22 calibre rifle and ammunition. The alleged offences fall under Section 27(A) of the Firearms Act 1964 as amended.

Det Garda Mike Abernethy of Gurranabraher Garda Station on the northside of Cork city gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said that Mr O’Leary made no reply when the two charges were put to him under caution on Saturday.

Det Garda Abernethy said that he was on patrol on Friday evening when he observed an Audi car being driven erratically on the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork city.

He stopped the car at 10.30pm and noted that there was a female driver and a male front seat passenger.

A search was carried out of the vehicle and a .22 calibre rifle and 81 rounds of ammunition was recovered. The occupants of the car were arrested.

The woman, who was in her 30s, was released without charge. A file will be sent to the DPP.

Det Garda Abernethy said that the Mr O’Leary made “full admissions” as to the ownership of the rifle and ammunition when he was in garda custody.

He stated that gardai were objecting to bail arising out of the seriousness of the offence and the possibility of a maximum sentence of 14 years on conviction. Det Garda Abernethy stressed that the nature of the evidence against the accused was “strong”.

“He [O’Leary] was caught red handed. There is strong evidence to support a very serious offence,” the garda said.

Full admissions were made in interview.”

He also expressed concern that Mr O’Leary would commit “further serious offences” if granted bail in the case.

Meanwhile, defence solicitor Joe Cuddigan said that the father of his client had travelled from Pakistan amid concerns for his son.

He said that the man was willing to reside in a property in Tralee, Co Kerry, with his son.

Mr Cuddigan said that “making full admissions” wasn’t the behaviour of a “hardened criminal”, with Dt Garda Abernethy agreeing with the proposition that the accused hadn’t caused gardaí any trouble in custody.

Mr O’Leary gave evidence in the witness box to the effect that he was prepared to follow stringent bail conditions and to live outside of Cork in order to obtain bail in the case.

Det Garda Abernethy said that such undertakings failed to “ease the fears of gardaí” in relation to the granting of bail to Mr O’Leary.

Judge Philip O’Leary declined to grant bail in the case arising out of the gravity of the alleged offences and the nature of the evidence in the case.

Mr O’Leary, who is a plumber and lives with his mother, was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Cork District Court on Tuesday.

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