One of the four Irish people charged with conspiring to smuggle guns into Ireland from the United States pleaded not guilty yesterday to the charges in a Florida Court. Siobhan Browne, a 34-year-old former financial analyst, was indicted by a US grand jury in early August along with Conor Claxton, Anthony Smyth, and Martin Mullan on charges of conspiracy, exporting weapons and using the US mail to export weapons. The four each face maximum penalties of 17 years in prison and fines of $1.5 million if convicted.
Ms Browne's not guilty plea follows the freeing on bail last week of a 33-year-old County Galway woman charged in connection with the gun-smuggling plot. Ms Jacqueline McIntyre, a native of Spiddal, with an address at Knock Holiday Homes, Inverin, in County Galway, was charged on July 30 with possession of three Ruger Magnum revolvers, three Glock semi-automatic pistols and 120 rounds of ammunition for an unlawful purpose on July 27. Ms Mc Intyre was freed on independent bail of £20,000 and her own bond of £2,000 by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. She was also ordered to surrender her passport and to report twice a week to Spiddal Garda station. She was remanded until October 12.
