Pistol and 1,500 bullets found at Mansfield home, court hears

A Garda search team recovered more than 1,500 bullets in the home of a son of the late former billionaire businessman Jim Mansfield, a court has heard.

Patrick James (PJ) Mansfield (38), who kept a legally held loaded pistol hidden behind a picture frame over his bed, is accused of unlawful possession of 1,257 rounds of Walther .22 ammunition without a firearms licence at his former home at Coldwater Lakes in Saggart, Co Dublin.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and his trial began at Dublin District Court on Tuesday.

However, after hearing evidence from some of the prosecution witnesses, Judge Ann Ryan held the case was too serious to be dealt with in the district court. She refused jurisdiction, meaning he will be tried in the Circuit Court which, on conviction, has wider sentencing powers.

The court heard gardaí from the Criminal Assets Bureau arrived at the property with a search warrant at about 7am on January 29th, 2015. Mr Mansfield was present with his partner and they remained in the kitchen while officers proceeded to search the house.

Boxes of bullets

Det Garda Maria Flynn told the court boxes of bullets were found in a gun safe, in a bedroom walk-in wardrobe and in a garage. A licensed rifle was found.

The court heard Det Garda Nigel Petrie found a loaded Walther .22 pistol behind a picture frame over a bed in the master bedroom. It was a legally held pistol and contained one round in the breech but was made safe by Det Garda Flynn.

The court heard PJ Mansfield was licensed to have 300 bullets for the Walther .22 pistol but he had 1,557 rounds for the gun. He has yet to be served with a book of evidence and was ordered to appear again on January 17th.

His brother, Jim Mansfield jnr (48) has pleaded not guilty to having 180 rounds of .22 Walther ammunition without a firearms licence at his home at Tassaggart House in Saggart on January 29, 2015. Judge Ann Ryan adjourned his case until January 17th for mention.

They are sons of businessman Jim Mansfield snr who died in 2014. The businessman was behind the Citywest hotel and Weston Airport and several other companies.