Dublin Man Jailed for Six Years After Handing Loaded Handgun to Taxi Driver

A 25-year-old Dublin man, Ryan Kelly, has been sentenced to six years for his involvement in a sophisticated enterprise.

The incident involved Kelly handing over a loaded handgun to a taxi driver and later being intercepted by gardaí (Irish police) in a car with other men wearing rubber gloves and carrying burner phones.

Mr Justice Paul Burns remarked that Kelly, 22 at the time of the offence, acted in concert with others and played a central role in the plan, although the plan’s specifics were not disclosed in court.

Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of a .38″ exceptional calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition, both deemed to be for unlawful purposes, at Captain’s Road on November 23, 2021.

The background to the case outlined a garda surveillance operation on Kelly and others at Captain’s Road.

A co-accused, Anthony Walker, drove a taxi to the location, where Kelly was seen receiving an item from Walker before hiding it in a hedge and later bringing it into his home.

Walker returned in the taxi, and Kelly was observed dropping something into the driver’s side window, later revealed to be the revolver.

Kelly was subsequently stopped as a passenger in a Volvo car, and three other individuals were found to have burner phones. The court noted Kelly’s previous convictions for public order offences and road traffic matters.

Despite the severity of the offence, Kelly expressed remorse through his defence counsel, apologising to the court, gardaí, and his family.

MJustice Burns highlighted the complex operation, which included stolen vehicles and disguises.

The headline sentence was initially set at ten years. Still, considering Kelly’s guilty plea and his relatively young age with no prior severe convictions, Mr Justice Burns reduced it to seven years on each count, to run concurrently, with the last year suspended for three years on the condition of engagement with probation services.

Kelly had previously faced charges related to participation in criminal activities, but the State decided not to proceed with those charges.

Sola Adeniji

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