The trial of Kerry-registered firearms dealer Patrick O’Mahony Jr faces a firearms offense over a machine gun component found in Dublin Airport luggage

Registered firearms dealer Patrick O’Mahony Jr, 53, of Ballyrameen, Castlemaine, Co. Kerry faces a single charge of possession of a Browning machine gun bolt at Terminal 2 on November 28, 2021.

He appeared in Dublin District Court on Tuesday when Judge John Hughes ordered his trial without a jury, which is expected to last at least a day, to begin on February 1.

The Director of Public Prosecutions ordered summary judgment of the case at the district court level, not the district court, which has broader judgmental powers.

Garda Sharon Breen explained the allegations and said at an earlier hearing that customs officials searched O’Mahony’s luggage and found suspected firearm parts which were later sent for investigation but only one of which was relevant.

She said the bolt was an “essential part” of a Browning machine gun, a prohibited firearm.

Mr O’Mahony was questioned and said it was a “historic firearm” and the court was told he was a registered firearms dealer, but the judge ruled “not for anything like that”.

He brought the item back to the United States after a trip to Florida.

Garda Breen agreed with the defense that Mr O’Mahony was cooperating from the start and Gardaí noted that all was well with his company.

The defense asked the judge to grant jurisdiction, arguing that the component was an antique weapon dating to 1919.

His attorney added that the “military enthusiast” intended to display it in his shop in the form of rare components and historic firearms. He also said the defendant had no other parts that would have allowed him to construct the firearm mechanism.

Lake Garda suspected nothing sinister, and the accused was interested in military components.

A co-defendant, another registered arms dealer facing similar charges, was tried in district court and received a six-month suspended sentence earlier this year after pleading guilty.