Teenager facing gun charge denied bail

AN 18-YEAR-OLD male has been denied bail after a loaded sub-machine gun and a silencer were allegedly found wrapped in a tea towel in a wheelie bin.

Unemployed Mark Skelly is accused of unlawful possession of a 9mm Ingram Mach pattern sub-machine gun, a sound suppressor and one round of 9mm Luger ammunition on Tuesday at Ballyfermot, Dublin.

Mr Skelly was charged yesterday afternoon and appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court. Detective Garda Donal Donoghue said the defendant made no reply when he was charged at Kilmainham station. Objecting to bail, the detective said the offences can, on conviction, carry a sentence of up to 14 years.

He alleged that Mr Skelly, with an address at Bulfin House, Dublin 8, was in control of the machine-gun and silencer, which the detective said had been moved to a house in Ballyfermot and placed in a bin.

Det Garda Donoghue said there was one round of ammunition in the breach of the firearm. The defendant was not at the house at the time of the weapon seizure, the court heard. The detective agreed with Mr Skelly’s barrister, Donal Pattison, that forensic analysis of the items seized had yet to be carried out.

Pleading for bail, the barrister suggested a curfew and residency conditions be imposed. However, Judge Smyth said Mr Skelly faced very serious charges and remanded him in custody to appear next week at Cloverhill District Court. Legal aid was granted.