MOYLOUGH MAN JAILED FOR GUN THEFT

Date Published: 31-Mar-2012

A 27-year-old Moylough man, who has had to wear a bulletproof vest since implicating others in the theft of firearms from the back of a courier truck five years ago, has been jailed for three years.

Dean Molloy, Cooloo, Briarfield pleaded guilty in 2010 to theft of nine Gamo air rifles, a shotgun and three rifles from a courier truck at Kilgorrive, Creagh, Ballinasloe, on November 27th, 2007.

Sentencing was delayed until the trial of co-accused, Jimmy Ward (45), of Slieve Rua, Ballybane had taken place at Galway Circuit Criminal Court two weeks ago.

A jury found Ward not guilty of theft but guilty of handling the stolen guns and he received a five-year sentence last week.

Detective Henry Burke told Molloy’s sentencing hearing while Molloy claimed he lived in fear of Ward and was under his influence at the time of the offence, he did not believe this.

Judge Raymond Groarke said Molloy and others had used fear and intimidation in trying to get away with the crime.

He said while four of the guns had been recovered by gardaí, nine were still in the hands of criminals.