A father-of-four, charged with conspiring to commit crimes with other parties, including possession of a firearm and ammunition, was granted bail at Limerick District Court. Michael Harty, aged 28, formerly of Bruach Na hAbhann, Ennis, and with an address at Rosemanor Road, Sixmilebridge, was charged with seven offences contrary to the Firearms Act. He is accused of having a .32 firearm and 11 rounds of .32 ammunition at Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare on August 21, 2011.
He is also accused of having a silencer for a .32 firearm on the same date.
Harty was also charged with conspiring with other persons to commit crimes, namely the possession of a .32 firearm, a silencer, and 11 rounds of ammunition contrary to Section 27A (1) of the Firearms Act 1925.
He is also charged with possession of a firearm, a silencer and 11 rounds of ammunition – all of which were not authorised by a firearms certificate, contrary to Section 2 of the Firearms Act.
Garda Declan O’Reilly, of the Organised Crime Unit in Harcourt Square, Dublin, gave evidence of arresting Harty, who made no reply to the charges.
The court did not hear evidence on any of the charges against Harty.
John Devane, solicitor for the accused, told the court that, his client was living with his partner and children at Sixmilebridge.
Gardaí did not object to bail provided a number of strict conditions were set down by the court, however, Inspector Seamus Ruane, said, the charges were “extremely serious”.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly fixed bail on the accused’s own bond of €5,000 and an independent surety of €10,000, of which €2,600 was to be lodged and approved by the court services.
The money was lodged by the accused’s mother, Philomena Harty.
Harty – who the court heard did not own a passport – was also ordered not to apply for any travel documents, sign on daily at Shannon Garda Atation, obey a curfew of 11pm-8am, and reside at his home in Sixmilebridge.
He was remanded on bail to appear in Naas District Court on September 5.
