Two Dublin brothers were each given suspended prison sentences at the Special Criminal Court yesterday for storing guns for use by the Continuity IRA.
Anthony Donohue (42), a hackney driver, of Palmers Park, Palmerstown, and Gabriel Donohue (28), a storeman, of Alpine Heights, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic .22 rifle with a telescopic sight, a bolt action .22 rifle and 31 rounds of ammunition and four shotgun cartridges at Alpine Heights on October 16th, 1999.
Anthony Donohue was given a five-year sentence suspended for five years and was fined £3,000. His brother, Gabriel, was given a two-year sentence suspended for two years.
Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, said the court was satisfied that Gabriel was a pawn in the hands of his elder brother. Det Supt Peter Maguire, of the Special Detective Unit, told the court gardai found the guns and ammunition at the home of Gabriel Donohue during an operation against the Continuity IRA.
Gabriel Donohue's statement in which he said his brother, Anthony, had brought the guns to his home.