Man enters plea after gardaí find large cache of weapons in car boot

Stephen Maguire

A young Co Donegal man is to go forward to the circuit court on a signed plea after gardaí found a large cache of weapons in the boot of his car.

It follows an incident during which gardaí stopped driver Aaron McNutt during a checkpoint at College Road in Letterkenny on July 28th 2023.

Gardaí stopped a car at College Road in Letterkenny at 3.45am on July 28th 2023 to carry out a routine search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

When they questioned the driver, McNutt, they found a flick knife in his possession. After carrying out a further search of the vehicle, officers located the large cache of items in the boot.

Speaking at Letterkenny District Court, McNutt's solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client is going forward to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court on a signed plea for sentence.

McNutt, of Glinsk, Kindrum in Fanad is charged with 10 charges including that he did without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, have in his possession a realistic imitation firearm.

The charge is contrary to section 9A of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 as inserted by section 40 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

He is also charged that he did have in his possession a black handgun, such possession not being authorised by a firearms certificate granted under the Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990 and for the time being in force.

This charge is Contrary to Section 2 of the Firearms Act, 1925, as amended by Section 15 of the Firearms Act 1964, and Section 3 of the Firearms Act 1971.

Mr Dorrian told the court that he had received a book of evidence on behalf of his client and that they are "ready to roll."

Judge Brendan O'Reilly said he wanted to administer the alibi warning in case the accused changed his mind.

He then adjourned the case until the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court commencing on October 28th.