A RUTHLESS criminal pressurised a man into claiming responsibility for a gun, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court wits told. The man, Richard Shaw (29), of Carnlough Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the revolver on September 22nd, 1994. He was given a four year jail sentence yesterday.
Garda Michael Jordan said the criminal had been on the run since the gun incident. He was carrying the gun in a bag when apprehended and tried to get away with it after assaulting the garda.
Judge Kelly said he had no option but to jail Shaw, while accepting the word of the experienced Garda Jordan that he was not a threat to society. He suspended the final 30 months of the sentence.
Garda Jordan said he did not believe Shaw's statement that he was responsible for the gun and had got it to protect himself after falling out with a gang of which he was a member. He believed the man with Shaw had put pressure on him to make that claim in the hope the case against him would be dropped. The gun had 10 rounds of ammunition and was in good condition.
Garda Jordan said the gun was regarded as an extremely dangerous weapon. It normally had a six inch barrel but the gun he recovered had four inches cut professionally off it.
Replying to Mr Desmond Zaiden, prosecuting, the garda said he stopped Shaw and the serious criminal when he observed them walking in the Phibsboro/Cabra area and asked what was in the bag.
Both men seemed nervous and began to assault him. He struck them with his baton to protect himself, while the criminal figure tried to get away with the gun, but it fell on the ground. Both he and Shaw escaped. Garda Jordan arrested Shaw some months ago.