Tullamore man jailed for three years on weapons charges

A Tullamore man who conspired to bring assorted deadly weapons into Ireland for use in a Limerick criminal feud was this week jailed fro three years. Sean Callinan (21), 11 Pearse Park, Tullamore was arrested along with co-accused Glen Geasley(27), 10 Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Cork in April of 2007. The court heard Callinan was on bail at the time of the offences. Gardaí discovered the shipment of rocket launchers, machine guns, pistols and €60,000 in cash when the men were arrested last April. Eleven days into the trial, both men changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms for unlawful purposes. In recognition of the change in plea, Judge Patrick Moran sentenced Callinan to six years, suspending the final three. Geasley was sentenced to 12 years with the final five suspended. However, Callinan will not begin his sentence until October 23 when his current sentence has expired. The change in plea will have saved the state a great deal of money in what was due to be one of the largest cases ever heard in the Ireland. Some 200 witnesses were due to give evidence in the trial. Over the eleven days of the trial the court was told that Gardaí, on learning that Limerick criminals were looking to purchase weapons, enlisted the help of British police who acted as prospective arms sellers. Gardaí and police from Britain then monitored the men as they attempted to purchase weapons from undercover British Special Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) members. Geasley met with the undercover agents in London on February 22. He claimed he was working for Wayne Dundon and needed high powered weapons for the ongoing feud in Limerick. He was shown pictures of a number of weapons during a meeting in London and agreed to pay €60,000 for the shipment. While Geasley waited for the men and arms to arrive at the Ibis Hotel in Cork, Callinan approached a van driven by an undercover agent and checked the weapons. He was immediately arrested. Geasley was arrested a short time later and the money was confiscated by Gardaí.