Two men in court after PSNI seizes AKM weapon and ammunition
A man arrested in a police operation that saw an AKM assault rifle seized was “hammered drunk” when he agreed to store the weapon, a court heard on Friday.
The defendants are Patrick James Collett, 56, a fork lift driver from Rossnagalliagh who was arrested at the scene and Martin Burke, 59, from Lone Moor Gardens who was arrested at his home in a follow-up operation. A detective sergeant told District Judge Barney McElholm that last Tuesday evening at 17.33 hours a black Volkswagen Passat driven, insured and owned by the defendant Collett stopped outside the defendant Burke’s home. Collett let himself into Burke’s home and a few minutes later he emerged carrying a black plastic bag and wearing a black glove.
The officer said the defendant Burke was arrested at 21.50 hours. Both defendants were taken to Musgrave Police station. Opposing bail, a PPS barrister said while she accepted neither defendant had a relevant criminal record, she believed there was a risk of the defendants reoffending if released on bail. She said the presence of the ammunition in the car was “particularly sinister because it was compatible with the assault rifle”.
“He was hammered drunk when he agreed to keep this in his home. He is a vulnerable and pathetic individual who did not know which way to turn. The only damage he has caused in his life is to his own liver. The police case is finished by the defendant saying he was exploited by others to store this weapon when under the influence of alcohol”, he said.
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