A man in his 20s has been charged in connection with a firearm seizure in Inchicore earlier this week and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice today, Thursday, 26th June at 10:30am.
The charge follows an incident on Tuesday evening, 24th June, when uniformed Gardaí from Kilmainham Community Engagement Unit were on routine patrol along Turvey Avenue, Inchicore. At approximately 8:00pm, officers observed two men entering a taxi and stopped the vehicle.
Upon approaching the car, Gardaí detected a strong smell of cannabis. Both occupants were informed they would be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977. During the search, one man was found to be wearing a ballistic vest. A .22 calibre pistol was discovered concealed within the vest, along with a substantial sum of cash.
The man was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. The firearm is now undergoing full technical examination.
In a follow-up operation on Wednesday, 25th June, investigating officers searched a residential property in Dublin’s inner city. A second man, also in his 20s, was arrested and is currently being held under the same legislation at a Garda station in the Dublin Region.
Speaking after the seizure, Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary praised the actions of the Gardaí involved, stating:
“I want to acknowledge and commend the work of two uniform members of An Garda Síochána yesterday evening going about their duties diligently and proactively.
This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm taken off the streets of Dublin.
Gardaí across the Dublin region are on duty 24 hours a day, supporting local communities and working hard to fulfil An Garda Síochána’s mission of keeping people safe.”
