Kildare man admits possessing 15 guns and 4,000 bullets

A Co Kildare man has pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin Business park two years ago.

Declan Brady (52), with an address at The Park, Wolstan Abbey, Celbridge, Co Kildare was due to stand trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court on Monday in relation to the discovery of an arms cache at Unit 52, Block 503, Grants Drive, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin on January 24th, 2017.

However, before his trial was due to commence, Brady pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four semi-automatic pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

It took the registrar of the Special Criminal Court several minutes to read the entirety of the two counts, such was the itinerary of firearms and ammunition.

When asked how he pleaded to the counts, Brady replied “guilty” in both instances.

He was remanded in custody to appear before the court on March 25th next for a sentence hearing.

Prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy SC asked noted that a “nolle prosequi” would be entered on the remaining charges, which means the State will not be proceeding with these counts.