Guilty plea entered following seizure of machine gun and ammunition in Clare forest

A father of three school going children has pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of an M16 machine gun and nearly 200  rounds of ammunition in a forest in County Clare.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Evan Little, aged 32, of Inis Eagla, Shannon, pleaded guilty to three charges arising from a garda operation last September.

With a number of supporters in the courtroom for this brief hearing, Mr Little pleaded guilty to having in his unlawful possession an M16 assault rifle and 179 rounds of ammunition in a forested area at Clonmoney West, Shannon on September 15th.

He has also admitted having in his unlawful possession a 30-round capacity magazine at the same location on the same date.

After his client formally pleaded guilty, Pat Whyms BL told Judge Francis Comerford that Mr Little "is in custody on these matters alone and there is some pressing urgency in that regard”.

The barrister said a Probation Report is essential in the case as the offences "represent a very serious escalation of his previous engagements with the criminal justice system”.

Mr Little went forward (from the district court) to the circuit court on signed pleas of guilty which removed the requirement for the State to compile a Book of Evidence in the case.

The 32-year-old  has been on remand in custody since last September after he was first refused bail in the district court and later in the High Court.

At the district court bail hearing last September, Mr Little’s solicitor, Daragh Hassett said his client “is a law abiding PAYE worker” and that it is the first time he has ever spent time in prison.

Detective Garda Ger Cunningham told the court at the bail hearing that gardai were objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges and the significant calibre weapon involved which he said is commonly used by military personnel.

Following this Thursday's procedural hearing, Judge Comerford remanded Mr Little in custody to appear via video-link at Ennis Circuit Court again on March 8 to fix a date for sentence.

The seizure of the firearm and ammunition was made during a joint operation involving members of the Emergency Response Unit and the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit.