Ireland: "Gun dealer’s family tied up as raiders steal guns, cash"

[cuchulainn]

from the Irish Examiner

(FYI: Gardaí = police)

http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sgZU47jc8cl4UsgadLjt5C321I.asp

17/05/03
Gun dealer’s family tied up as raiders steal guns, cash

By John Breslin GUN dealers have been warned they are vulnerable to raids due to stocking too many weapons at any one time because of delays over the issuing of licences.

The National Rifle and Pistol Association issued the warning following a raid on the north Dublin home of a registered dealer early yesterday morning.

John and Philomena Walls and their son, were left traumatised when up to four masked and armed men burst in to their house in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

The three were dragged from their beds, blindfolded, frogmarched to a room, gagged, tied up and locked in as the gang ransacked their home.

Jewellery, 4,000 in cash, 14 shotguns, one rifle and a Isuzu 4x4 were stolen in the raid, which happened around 1am.

Gardaí believe the raid was well planned and executed and carried out by professional gangsters.

Mr Walls, 54, is a respected member of the shooting community and of the NRPAI.

As well as being a gun dealer, he also runs a shooting range from his home and business address at Coney Hill.

Declan Keogh, a spokesman for the association, who was a friend of John and Philomena Walls, said there remains serious problems over the issuing of licences, which he claimed can still take six months to be processed by gardaí.

In the meantime, dealers hold on to the gun.

A garda spokesman said he was aware there was a problem about 10 months ago, mainly attributed to computerisation of the licensing system.

“My information is that problem was being addressed and had been resolved,†the spokesman said.

Gun owners believe it should take no more than a few weeks for security and other background checks to be carried out before a licence is issued.

The guns stolen during yesterday morning’s raid add to the thousands already in circulation in the criminal underworld.

In recent months, there have been a worrying number of powerful sub machine guns and pump action shotguns seized by gardaí.

Detectives based in Balbriggan are leading the investigation into the raid.

They are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything between 1am and 4am in the vicinity of Coney Hill to contact them.

They are also trying to trace the family vehicle, registration number 02 D 36627.

Detective Superintendent Mike Hoare described the ordeal suffered by the family as “absolutely horrificâ€.

Of the raid, he added: “It’s a serious concern to us and we have a major investigation on the go, especially with firearms involved.â€

© Irish Examiner, 2003

 

[jacketch]

Obviously the licensing has kept the guns out of criminals hands!!!!!

 

[agricola]

i wonder if this was a "donation" to the Movement? PIRA taking up deer stalking now or what?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Gun owners believe it should take no more than a few weeks for security and other background checks to be carried out before a licence is issued.

Last time I bought a gun, it took about eight minutes.

 

[Kharn]

Standing Wolf:
8 minutes? Get your C&R and cut it down to as long as it takes to type in an address and credit card number (~60 seconds for me).

Kharn