Guilty plea from man who had AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in Dublin residential area

Eoin Reynolds

A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possession of an assault rifle in a residential part of the capital two years ago.

Eric O'Driscoll (22), who has an address in Dublin, appeared briefly before the three-judge Special Criminal Court on Monday morning.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at Ratoath Drive in Finglas on January 9th, 2022, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

O'Driscoll was charged with four further firearms offences but Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the plea meets the prosecution's case. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, presiding, adjourned the matter to a later date.

O'Driscoll was due to go on trial later this year with his brother Glen Ward (31), who faces a charge of possession of an AR-15 rifle and another of reckless discharge of a firearm at Ratoath Drive in Finglas on January 1st, 2022.

Mr Ward is due before the court at a later date.