National: Man accused of having 'machine gun' and ammunition in forest refused bail

A FATHER of three school-going children who is accused of unlawful possession of an M16 machine gun has been refused bail.

Evan Little, aged 32, of Inis Eagla, Shannon, County Clare appeared before Ennis District Court this Wednesday in connection with two firearms charges arising from his arrest last Friday.

Mr Little is charged with having unlawful possession of an M16 assault rifle and 179 rounds of ammunition in a forested area at Clonmoney West, Shannon on September 15.

Detective Garda Ger Cunningham told the court that Mr Little was arrested during a joint operation involving members of the Emergency Response Unit and the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit.

Mr Little was first brought before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Sunday night at which he was remanded in custody following a procedural hearing.

During this Wednesday's sitting, solicitor Daragh Hassett applied for bail on behalf of his client stating that Mr Little's time in custody since Sunday has been the first time he has ever spent time in prison.

Det Cunningham said 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.

Det Cunningham said that Garda anticipate more charges will be preferred in the case and he added that gardai have concerns that Mr Little may abscond if granted bail.

Mr Hassett told Judge Alec Gabbett that “all the indicators are that Mr Little is someone who is law-abiding and plays by the rules”.

He said that Mr Little - who appeared in court via video link from prison - is a qualified tree surgeon and has been a "law-abiding PAYE worker". He has three school-going children.

Making the bail application, Mr Hassett asked Judge Gabbett not to be blind-sided by the type of weapon involved suggesting “there is more to the case than that”.

Judge Gabbett commented: “This is a machine gun. This is the type of automatic rifle used in war zones.”

Mr Hassett said that Mr Little was willing to abide by any strict bail conditions that would effectively put him under house arrest and that he would also surrender his passport along with providing cash surety to court.

Judge Gabbett refused bail and remanded Mr Little in custody to re-appear before Ennis District Court again next week.