Man to stand trial after gardaí find firearms, sword and axe in car boot

Stephen Maguire

A man is to stand trial after gardaí in Co Donegal found an assortment of alleged weapons in a car during a routine search.

Gardaí opened the boot of the car and found a range of items including a handgun, a pistol, five rifles, a sword and an axe.

The driver of the car, Aaron McNutt, appeared at Letterkenny District Court following the incident.

Having heard an outline of the incident which happened at College Road in Letterkenny July 28th, 2023, Judge Eiteain Cunningham previously refused jurisdiction.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had reviewed the case and decided McNutt, aged 22, should stand trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

McNutt, of Glinsk, Kindrum, is charged with 10 offences including that he did without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, have in his possession a realistic imitation firearm.

The charge is contrary to section 9A of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 as inserted by section 40 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

He is also charged that he did have in his possession a black handgun, such possession not being authorised by a firearms certificate granted under the Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990 and for the time being in force.

This charge is Contrary to Section 2 of the Firearms Act, 1925, as amended by Section 15 of the Firearms Act 1964, and Section 3 of the Firearms Act 1971.

The court heard garda stopped a car at College Road in Letterkenny at 3.45am on July 28th, 2023, to carry out a routine search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

When they questioned the driver, McNutt, they found a flick knife in his possession. After carrying out a further search of the vehicle, officers located the large cache of items in the boot.

Sergeant Collins said that McNutt made full admissions when questioned but told gardai that he admitted ownership of the items.

Solicitor Frank Dorrian said he wanted to point out to the court that four of the items recovered were not actual firearms but referred to them as "toys which fire pellets."

“There was nothing to suggest that they were to be wielded or used,” Mr Dorrian said. “The number was deceptive. The others were deemed to be authentic-looking replicas.”

The case was adjourned until February 17th next year to allow for the service of a book of evidence in the case.