Latest news with #MarkMcCourt
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man who supplied Irish crime gangs with weapons and ammo faces 14 years in jail
Before the Special Criminal Court today was Mark McCourt (34) The boss of a gun-running ring that supplied weapons and ammunition smuggled by air from America to criminal organisations could face up to 14 years in jail, a court has heard. Before the Special Criminal Court today was Mark McCourt (34), of Edenrieve, Newry, Co Down, who previously pleaded guilty to firearms offences and participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons. Counsel for the State, Simon Matthews BL said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had placed the offending at the higher end of the scale, which carries a sentence of ten to 14 years. Mark McCourt and the seized weapons News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 31 The matter has gone back to November 3 next for sentencing, with the accused remanded in custody. When McCourt appeared before the Special Criminal Court earlier this week, a senior garda said in evidence to the three-judge court that he was 'fully satisfied' that there was a criminal organisation in existence under the 'control and direction' of McCourt 'whose function was the importation of firearms components from the USA to Ireland, and the reassembly of these restricted firearms for onward distribution to other criminal organisations'. Seized weapons Det Insp McCartan said McCourt had already been identified in connection with the suspected importation of firearms when the defendant was arrested for something else on 24 May 2024 and had his phone seized. Gardaí were able to extract data from the phone shedding light on the activities of the smuggling ring in the preceding year, along with conversations with prospective customers in messages on Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat, the witness said. Det Insp McCartan said McCourt and his co-accused both flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023. The witness told the court that in one text message, McCourt told one prospective customer -- who used the alias 'The Keeler' – that '€75k cash is [the] best price' for a number of firearms, adding: 'I'll throw in the 10 pipes for free.' Det Insp McCartan said: 'It's my belief that refers to pipe bombs.' He told the court the defendant has some 42 previous convictions including assault causing harm, theft, and dangerous driving 'on the high end'.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Boss of gun-running ring that smuggled weapons from US could face up to 14 years in jail
The boss of a gun-running ring that supplied weapons and ammunition smuggled by air from the US to criminal organisations could face up to 14 years in jail, a court has heard. Before the Special Criminal Court on Thursday was Mark McCourt (34), of Edenrieve, Newry, Co Down, who previously pleaded guilty to firearms offences and participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons. Advertisement Counsel for the State, Simon Matthews BL said the Director of Public Prosecutions had placed the offending at the higher end of the scale, which carries a sentence of 10 to 14 years. The matter has gone back to November 3rd next for sentencing, with the accused remanded in custody. When McCourt appeared before the Special Criminal Court earlier this week, a senior garda said in evidence to the three-judge court that he was 'fully satisfied' that there was a criminal organisation in existence under the 'control and direction' of McCourt 'whose function was the importation of firearms components from the USA to Ireland, and the reassembly of these restricted firearms for onward distribution to other criminal organisations'. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who led an investigation into the gang's activities last year, said a firearms technician had been able to assemble 82 gun parts seized in a raid on a property in Co Louth last year into six assault rifles and a dozen pistols. Advertisement Det Insp McCartan said McCourt had already been identified in connection with the suspected importation of firearms when the defendant was arrested for something else on May 24th 2024 and had his phone seized. Gardaí were able to extract data from the phone shedding light on the activities of the smuggling ring in the preceding year, along with conversations with prospective customers in messages on Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat, the witness said. Det Insp McCartan said McCourt and his co-accused both flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023. The witness told the court that in one text message, McCourt told one prospective customer -- who used the alias 'The Keeler' – that '€75k cash is [the] best price' for a number of firearms, adding: 'I'll throw in the 10 pipes for free.' Det Insp McCartan said: 'It's my belief that refers to pipe bombs.' He told the court the defendant has some 42 previous convictions including assault causing harm, theft, and dangerous driving 'on the high end'.
Sunday World
22-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man admits having guns and explosives seized in Co Louth arms bust
Mark McCourt (34) appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation to import explosives, firearms and ammunition into the State. Mark McCourt, with an address at Edenerieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday where his defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said he could be arraigned on six counts on the basis that they are sample counts. McCourt pleaded guilty that between February 10, 2023 and July 19, 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, did participate in or contribute to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the said criminal organisation or any of its members, of a serious offence, to wit the importation in the State of Firearms and Ammunition and Explosives. He further admitted to unlawfully having in his possession two .233 Remington Calibre barrels from AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose on July 19 2024 at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth. McCourt also pleaded guilty on the same date at the same location to unlawfully having in his possession nine assorted 9mm luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi-automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm Lugar Calibre semi-automatic pistol in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose. Mr Grehan requested that a governor's report be sought in respect of his client and asked that a date for sentencing be fixed before the end of term. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed that a governor's report be prepared and set a date of Monday July 28 for the sentence hearing. Mark McCourt and the seized weapons News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Man (34) pleads guilty to having guns and explosives seized in Ardee arms bust
Mark McCourt, with an address at Edenerieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday where his defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said he could be arraigned on six counts on the basis that they are sample counts. McCourt pleaded guilty that between February 10, 2023 and July 19, 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, did participate in or contribute to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the said criminal organisation or any of its members, of a serious offence, to wit the importation in the State of Firearms and Ammunition and Explosives. He further admitted to unlawfully having in his possession two .233 Remington Calibre barrels from AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose on July 19 2024 at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth. McCourt also pleaded guilty on the same date at the same location to unlawfully having in his possession nine assorted 9mm luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi-automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm Lugar Calibre semi-automatic pistol in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose. Mr Grehan requested that a governor's report be sought in respect of his client and asked that a date for sentencing be fixed before the end of term. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed that a governor's report be prepared and set a date of Monday July 28 for the sentence hearing.
BreakingNews.ie
21-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (34) pleads guilty over links to importing explosives, guns and ammo
A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation to import explosives, firearms and ammunition into the State. Mark McCourt, with an address at Edenerieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday where his defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said he could be arraigned on six counts on the basis that they are sample counts. Advertisement McCourt pleaded guilty that between February 10, 2023 and July 19th, 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, did participate in or contribute to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the said criminal organisation or any of its members, of a serious offence, to wit the importation in the State of Firearms and Ammunition and Explosives. He further admitted to unlawfully having in his possession two .233 Remington Calibre barrels from AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose on July 19 2024 at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth. McCourt also pleaded guilty on the same date at the same location to unlawfully having in his possession nine assorted 9mm luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi-automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm Lugar Calibre semi-automatic pistol in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose. Mr Grehan requested that a governor's report be sought in respect of his client and asked that a date for sentencing be fixed before the end of term. Advertisement Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed that a governor's report be prepared and set a date of Monday July 28 for the sentence hearing.
