A 36-year-old man who was caught in possession of an loaded automatic pistol and ammunition in Limerick last June has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that Ibrihme Hassan, originally from Egypt but with an address in Celbridge, Co Kildare, was delivering the weapon to a major crime figure in Dublin to pay off a debt of €1,000.
Hassan was arrested with another man in the Prospect Hill area of Limerick on 14 June 2006.
He had been seen taking an object from the sleeve of his jacket and placing it in the glove compartment of a car. It turned out to be a loaded semi automatic weapon with a silencer attached.
Hassan initially pleaded not guilty to the two charges of possession of a weapon and ammunition, but changed his plea last week.
He had been living in Ireland for the past 12 years and was married to an Irish woman with whom he had a six-year-old daughter.
It is understood he was a chronic heroin user, and got involved in the transport of the weapon to pay off a debt which he owed to a well known crime figure.
Judge Caroll Moran said the transport of weapons was a very serious offence attracting a maximum term of 10 years in prison.
However, he said given Mr Hassan's guilty plea and the fact that he had a good record up to this offence he imposed a sentence of three years.
