Two Men in Court Over Possession of Components for AR-15 Rifles and Semi-Automatic Handguns
Two men appeared in Dublin District Court charged with possession of components for six AR-15 rifles and 12 semi-automatic handguns. The charges stem from a seizure at a premises on John Street, Ardee, Co Louth.
Mark McCourt, 32, from Edencrieve, Newry, Co Down, and Conor O’Brien, 27, from Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, faced Judge John Hughes on Wednesday evening. They are charged with possessing components for 18 firearms seized from the Ardee premises last Friday.
McCourt faces 23 charges of possessing firearm components, including ammunition. Detective Garda Ormond of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau testified that McCourt made “no reply” to all charges after caution. The parts in question could build six AR-15 style rifles and 12 semi-automatic pistols. McCourt was remanded into custody pending his next court appearance, with no bail application made.
Detective Garda Suzanne Lyons provided evidence for O’Brien’s 23 charges. O’Brien also made no reply after caution and was remanded into custody without a bail application. Both men are scheduled to appear before Cloverhill District Court next week.
The seized components include .223 Remington calibre barrels from Anderson Manufacturing for AM-15 rifles, 9mm Luger calibre barrels, AR-15 receivers, and frames and slides for pistols such as Canik, Smith & Wesson M&P, and Sig Sauer P320. Magazines, barrels, and various ammunition were also part of the charges.
The court appearance follows the seizure announced last Friday. Garda Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly emphasized the potential danger of these weapons. “These would have undoubtedly been used to maim, kill, and intimidate those in communities across Ireland,” he said. He commended the dedication of the Gardaí involved, stating, “Operations like today’s demonstrate our determination to make Ireland a hostile environment for organised criminal groups.”
The firearms and approximately 900 rounds of ammunition were seized as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation targeting organised crime. The search was conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) with support from the Garda Emergency Response Unit. Follow-on searches were carried out at several properties in the county with assistance from the Louth Divisional Crime Unit, Louth Drug Units, and the Garda Dog Unit.
