A KILKENNY property developer who was seen outside the Four Courts in his four-wheel drive with a rifle has been remanded on bail pending sentence.
Widower and father of three Pádraig Hennessy (44), The Commons, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of a .22 calibre rifle without a licence at Inn’s Quay, Dublin, on September 5th last.
Judge Denis McLoughlin at the Dublin District Court was told that Defence Forces personnel who had passed in an Army vehicle noticed Hennessy outside the Four Courts. Gardaí were alerted but they found Hennessy’s vehicle unoccupied but the rifle was still inside.
Hennessy returned and identified himself to gardaí. He was arrested and brought to the Bridewell Garda station.
Judge McLoughlin accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case at District Court level.
He also noted that Hennessy had removed the bolt from the rifle before he travelled to Dublin.
Solicitor Murrough O’Rourke, defending, told the judge that his client’s business had collapsed and “in his mind I think it was a protest of some sorts”.
Mr O’Rourke said his client had a licence for the rifle previously but it had lapsed.
He said Hennessy had accepted his actions were “very stupid”.
Hennessy was “under a lot of stress with his business, his wife had died, and I think he just snapped”.
The judge said he was “at a loss” as to why Hennessy had the weapon and he “wanted to get some insight”.
He ordered a pre-sentencing probation report and adjourned the case until May.
