A city-centre businessman has been given an 18-month suspended sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for handling stolen mobile-phone accessories. He was also fined £500 by Judge Elizabeth Dunne for having a revolver and a crossbow and crossbow bolts without certificates under the Firearms Acts at his home on March 2nd, 1999. He had no previous convictions.
James Booth (58), of Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, runs an office-supply company at Hardwicke Street and was formerly chairman of the Dublin Inner City Business Association. He pleaded guilty to the firearms charges and to having the stolen property at his premises.
Det Garda Kevin Stratford told Mr Paul Burns, prosecuting, that gardai found a plastic bag with the stolen mobilephone accessories in a search of the Hardwicke Street premises on March 1st, 1999. The property was valued at £589 and had been stolen from the warehouse of Person to Person.
Mr Donagh McDonagh SC, defending, said Booth's involvement in these crimes was one of stupidity rather than of major culpability.