GUN OWNERS in County Limerick who have not renewed their firearms licences have been urged to act quickly and renew applications or fear prosecutions and have the guns forfeit to the State.
It emerged this week that several hundred firearms are being illegally held in areas of the County as owners have failed to renew their licences.
Up to 300 weapons in the Newcastle West District are now being held illegally as licences have not been renewed and a further 200 applications have only advanced through stage one.
The majority of these applications still have the fees for the licensing application outstanding.
Gardaí have written letters warning people of their obligations after their annual and three-year firearms licences expired last year.
Under the new legislation and firearms rules, certain firearms are now valid for a three year period after which new applications must be made to the Superintendent of the Garda District.
Sergeant Denis Woods from Newcastle West Garda Station has urged firearms holders to fully engage and complete the process of renewing licences or the State will be forced to eventually start looking at prosecutions in relations to these ongoing breaches.
