Man and woman charged after firearms seizure to be tried in Special Criminal Court
They are accused of possession of a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and a Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition
A man and woman charged after guns and ammunition were seized in Dublin have been sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court.
Jamie Moss (22) and Sarah Jane Byrne (36) were served with the book of evidence when they appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.
The pair were charged after detectives stopped a car on the Old Navan Road in Dublin 15 and recovered a pistol and ammunition.
During further searches, gardaí uncovered a sub-machine gun, a sawn-off shotgun, and more ammunition.
The accused, whose addresses cannot be published, are accused of possession of a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and a Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition for unlawful purposes at Old Navan Road on February 16, 2024.
Ms Byrne is further charged with having a Tokarev calibre PPS-43 sub-machine gun, a 12-gauge over-and-under configuration sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and 27 rounds of 9mm Luger CBC machine gun ammunition under her control at her home in Dublin.
A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who go forward for trial to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court.
Jamie Moss and Sarah Jane Byrne
Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd
Judge David McHugh gave the accused the formal alibi caution.
In relation to Ms Byrne, the judge assigned defence solicitor Niall O'Connor, one junior counsel and one senior counsel on free legal aid.
Mr Moss was also assigned defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens on legal aid, as well as two counsel.
Gardaí previously told Blanchardstown Court that gardaí stopped a Ford Focus which Mr Moss was driving on the Old Navan Road. Ms Byrne was in the passenger seat.
Detective Garda Mark Ferris alleged a Makarov pistol was in 'cling film, in a plastic bag, wrapped in a scarf' in the car.
Gda Ferris said gardaí conducted a follow-up search at Ms Byrne's home and he alleged a sawn-off shotgun, sub-machine gun and ammunition were 'hidden under the stairs in her house'.
The district court also heard claims that Ms Byrne 'admitted taking possession of them, stripping them down, cleaning them and rewrapping them'.
The accused have not yet indicated how they intend to plead to the charges.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Garda grabbed by testicles by prisoner had struggled to have baby, court told
The court heard the victim and his partner had been trying for a baby at the time of the assault, and the victim believed this incident had affected him. A garda whose testicles were grabbed by a prisoner in a garda station had been trying for a baby and believed the assault had affected his ability to have a child, a court has heard. Defendant Neil Waters (42) could not recall doing what he did, his lawyer said. Judge David McHugh said what had happened to the garda had been quite significant. Judge McHugh ordered Waters to complete 100 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison. The defendant, of Maynooth Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare, admitted threatening and abusive behaviour at Main Street in Celbridge, and assaulting a peace officer, on March 19, 2024. Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12 2025 Sergeant Noel Kavanagh told Blanchardstown District Court gardaí were called to the Kildrought Lounge following reports of an incident. Sgt Kavanagh said Waters was verbally threatening towards staff and gardaí at the scene. He was arrested and taken back to the garda station. Sgt Kavanagh said he was in the station when he heard a commotion, and he went to investigate. As Waters was being placed in a cell, he was being noisy, and when he saw Sgt Kavanagh he turned and went for him. Sgt Kavanagh said gardaí pushed Waters back and he fell to the ground, and as he did so he rugby-tackled the injured party. Officers then went to help Waters up, but at this point he grabbed the victim by the testicles. The garda's legs buckled, and he tried to pull Waters's hands away. Sgt Kavanagh said that when the victim was clear of Waters, he fell to his knees with the pain. He said the garda did not wish to make a victim-impact statement. However, the court heard the victim and his partner had been trying for a baby at the time of the assault, and the victim believed this incident had affected him. The court heard Waters had five previous convictions, for minor road matters. Defence solicitor John O'Doherty said Waters wished to apologise for his behaviour. Waters knows he was abusive and out of control, but he cannot recall doing what he did to the garda, the solicitor said. A medical report on the garda's injuries was handed into court. Mr O'Doherty said it was impossible for medics to say if there was a full correlation between the assault and the garda's difficulties, but it 'didn't help the situation'. Mr O'Doherty also said Waters was a qualified electrician, and his partner was in court to support him.
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Thief had money problems linked to communions and confirmations, court hears
The defence solicitor said Sandra Byrne had financial difficulties at the time, due to a number of communion and confirmation celebrations. A shoplifter who stole cosmetics was in financial difficulties at the time due to holy communion and confirmation celebrations, a court has heard. Sandra Byrne (55) was stopped by security staff as she walked out of Boots with a bagful of goods. Judge David McHugh ordered Byrne to donate €80 to Blanchardstown Hospice and said he would leave her without a conviction. Stock photo Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12 2025 The defendant, with addresses at Temple Street West and Mountjoy Street, both Dublin 7, admitted stealing cosmetics, worth €630, from Boots, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, on May 20, 2025. Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court that Byrne put a number of cosmetic products in a bag and tried to leave the store, but she was stopped and detained by security staff. Sgt Callaghan said the goods were recovered in a resalable condition. Defence solicitor Eoghan O'Sullivan said Byrne, who was not working, took the goods in a 'moment of madness'. He said Byrne had financial difficulties at the time, due to a number of communion and confirmation celebrations. He said Byrne was holding her hands up, did not want to take up court time, and wished to apologise for her behaviour.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
First review: Rex Ryan convincing as Gerry Hutch in play about gangster's life
Ryan, eldest son of the late broadcaster Gerry Ryan, had previously revealed how Hutch co-operated in his research for the play. REX Ryan walks onto a dimly lit stage in Dublin's Glass Mask Theatre in a long grey wig and beard, replicating the stark image of Gerry Hutch's famous appearance at the Special Criminal Court. He stands motionless listening to a plethora of news reports about The Monk being charged with murder for the notorious Regency Hotel bloodbath, in which Kinahan gangster David Byrne was gunned down but main target Daniel Kinahan managed to flee unharmed. Several TV screens border both sides of the small theatre which holds a sold-out audience of around 50, showing actors playing news reporters telling how Hutch is also suspected of orchestrating two of the biggest cash robberies in the history of the state – the Marino Mart and Brink Allied heists. Rex Ryan as Gerry Hutch News in 90 Seconds - June 11th Hutch's other main nemesis – which Ryan focuses on through much of the play – is RTÉ crime correspondent Paul Reynolds, who previously interviewed The Monk on Primetime in 2008 and covered his trial two years ago. 'I don't want to hear anymore!' rages Ryan as Hutch. 'Turn that thing down!' Several times in the play Reynolds is referred to as a 'dying wasp', which Hutch dismissively retorted to the TV reporter when cornered by him at the RDS count centre last year when he arrived to hear how he narrowly missed out being elected to the Dáil in the General Election. Ryan, eldest son of the late broadcaster Gerry Ryan, had previously revealed how Hutch co-operated in his research for the play. The pair initially talked over Zoom while Hutch was in prison, and later met several times when Hutch was released. Ryan maintains the two are no longer in contact, and Hutch did no show up to the opening night last night. Gerry Hutch: AKA The Monk As the barrage of news reports dies down and Ryan takes off his wig and fake beard to display his natural black short hair, looking somewhat similar to a younger Hutch. He puts on a coarse Dublin accent as he apes Hutch ranting about people 'pushing me down'. 'You're in the mind of The Monk now ladies and gentlemen, get your pop corn ready,' he advises, to giggles from some audience members. He speculates about whether how the verdict will pan out, whether he 'gets justice today and go home to me family' or else 'rot in jail for life.' He adds 'I've had lots of time to think in here'. Then another underlying theme of the play is highlighted, when while stressing he's not really religious 'I do think there's a guardian angel watching over me'. He reminisces about his childhood in his monologue, in which he built up a string of convictions and ended up in St Patrick's Institution and Mountjoy Prison. 'I was a normal kid, I jumped out of bed every morning like the Duracell bunny I did, huge energy,' he explains. 'I played football in the Cage,' He talks about having his mates in Summerhill, but poverty made his and his 'Bugsy Malone' gang turn to a life of crime, being an 'ordinary decent criminal' targeting the likes of butchers and not doing the likes of hand bag snatching or poor boxes. 'Yeah I did some crimes, some of I got caught, some of them I got away with,' he declares. His ma is revered, while his da is a hard worker in the docks. 'I was a natural born leader,' he boasts, as he also speaks about his love for his wife and his five children. Then a news report blasts out 'an assassination attempt on The Monk', in reference to a failed hit on him in Lanzarote by the Kinahan gang. 'No, no, we're not going there,' he storms. 'The Monk, The Monk…I never got me family involved!' News clips of the robberies are played on the TV screens, with Ryan also appearing on monitors and another actor playing Reynolds in their Primetime interview, in which Hutch maintained his innocence of those crimes. 'Yeah right,' loudly chuckled one audience member. An old clip of Veronica Guerin on the Late Late Show is shown, with Ryan's character explaining how the slain crime journalist once confronted him at his home in Clontarf. Monk poster He also tells of the assassination attempt in Lanzarote, describing his the gun man walked by him and didn't see him in the bar. Again he believes his 'guardian angel' helped him escaped being killed. At the end of the hour long play Ryan again dons his grey wig and beard, as the verdict of 'not guilty' is announced. With that a teenage girl dressed in black comes through the audience and joins a stunned Hutch, with the audience left to determine for themselves who exactly she is – perhaps his protective 'guardian angel'. 'A lot of whitewashing' remarked one audience member at the play's conclusion. While there may be accusations that the portrayal of The Monk is somewhat glamorising a notorious criminal, Ryan's portrayal is convincing and the production is well put together and certainly not boring.
