Corkman found with 263 rounds of ammunition in his shed jailed

Sheehan of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, appeared before the three-judge, non-jury court on the single charge that on June 3, 2022, he had in his possession 263 rounds of ammunition in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have them for a lawful purpose at the same location.

At the Special Criminal Court on Monday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced Sheehan to three years’ imprisonment with the final 18 months of that term suspended for two years.

Mr Justice MacGrath said that Sheehan had been discovered to be in possession of a “small” amount of cannabis in his own bedroom on the date of June 3, 2022, and that investigating gardaí had searched the remainder of his address.

Mr Justice MacGrath said gardaí discovered a replica pistol, which was not designed to fire ammunition, as well as the 263 rounds in a bag in Sheehan’s shed. Sheehan admitted his possession of the ammunition to gardaí at the scene.

Investigating gardaí noted Republican memorabilia at the scene with Sheehan telling them that his grandfather had instilled a Republican belief in him.

Republican activities

Mr Justice MacGrath said that when questioned by gardaí, Sheehan admitted his involvement in Republican activities, with the judge noting that Sheehan had been “front and centre” at Republican pipe bands and colour ceremonies after being recruited by someone “twice his age”.

Sheehan said he had amassed the ammunition from nights out shooting with another man and from his interest in war memorabilia. Mr Justice MacGrath said that Sheehan’s father had suffered with addiction issues and had passed away in February.

Sheehan, the judge said, had a strong interest in music, poetry and spoken word projects and had been a “dedicated” volunteer at a studio where he penned a “powerful and impactful” song for young offenders about young people and their mental health.

Mr Justice MacGrath said the offence had been categorised by the DPP as being in the lowest range of offending, which carried a pre-mitigation headline sentence of between five and seven years.

The judge said Sheehan was 21 at the time of the offence, had since stayed away from paramilitary organisations and had admitted his possession of the ammunition to gardaí.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan was a young man with no serious previous convictions and that younger people with a lack of maturity can encounter difficulties in coping with incarceration. 

The judge added that Sheehan was a “strong” candidate for rehabilitation and someone who had engaged with probation services. He said Sheehan had a good employment record, had accepted his possession of the ammunition and had cut contacts with Republicans.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan had a good employment record, while the court noted his remorse and regret and also that he was working in construction but hoped to return to the butchering trade.

Sentencing

Mr Justice MacGrath set a headline sentence of six years’ imprisonment but discounted three years of that sentence in mitigation, saying the court had to consider a possibly “unjust” incarceration period regarding the presumptive minimum sentence of five years.

The judge then suspended the last 18 months of the three-year sentence for two years in the interests of mitigation and ordered that Sheehan have no contact with those of “militant or paramilitaries disposition”.

Sheehan had also been charged with membership of an illegal organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, at a location within the State on the same date. That charge was later dropped by the State.

The State decided to not prosecute the membership charge with Maddie Grant BL, for the DPP, saying the plea of guilty to the ammunition charge would “meet the case”.