Judgment reserved in case against man accused of conspiring to procure weapons
The CCA has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by a man against his conviction for conspiring to procure weapons including rocket launchers for a criminal gang running its business from prison.
In February 2008, Glen Geasley (aged 28), Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, was sentenced to 12 years in jail with five years suspended by Judge Patrick Moran after the weapons were recovered in a covert Garda operation following a joint operation with the UK police, at the Ibis Hotel, Dunkettle in Cork in April 2007.
In his trial at Cork Circuit Court the prosecution claimed the weapons were intended for the Dundon gang in Limerick to wage war on their enemies in a feud in the city.
Geasley denied three charges of conspiracy with others to possess weaponry and one charge of attempting to possess the weaponry all between February 22 and April 20, 2007.
However on the 11th day of a trial that was mostly taken up with legal argument Geasley subsequently pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiring with others to possess the firearms in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that such possession was not for lawful purpose. However Geasley appealed his conviction.
Today the three Judge Court of Criminal Appeal consisting of Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice John MacMenamin, reserved their decision.
At his trial the court heard that Geasley was arrested followed a joint operation between gardaí and members of Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency, when it was learned that a criminal gang in Ireland was 'shopping' for weapons from inside one of the country's prisons.
The weapons haul included two RPG 7 rocket launchers, five AKM assault rifles, five AR 15 semi-automatic assault rifles, two Uzi sub-machine guns, three 9mm Smith & Wessons, two 9mm Brownings and five 9mm Sig Saurs semi-automatic pistols.
