Competitive marksman had too much ammunition at his Louth home

Libero Borza, a licensed competitive marksman, pleaded guilty to two charges for possessing ammunition not authorised by a Firearms Certificate. Gardaí seized 3,900 rounds of air rifle pellets and 7,707 rounds of shotgun cartridges at his Blakestown address on July 20, 2024. He said he accumulated the ammunition over several years for competition use and believed there were no restrictions on how much he could hold. The court heard he was fully licensed for his shooting activities and had competed internationally. The judge adjourned the case to allow a €500 donation to the court fund so the Probation Act could be applied, with the excess ammunition potentially forfeited to the State and the firearms returned through a Police Property Application.

"Libero Borza (60), Blakestown, Ardee, pleaded guilty at Dundalk District Court to 2 charges in respect of possession of 3,900 rounds of air rifle pellets and 7,707 rounds of shotgun cartridges, such possession not authorised by a Firearms Certificate. His solicitor said that he had accumulated the ammuntion over a number of years and was storing it for competition use. The defendant did not think there was any restriction on what he could hold."

"Evidence was given that gardaí seized the ammunition at Mr Borza's Blakestown address on July 20, 2024. Also taken from a safe were two legally held firearams and two legally held air rifles. The DPP directed summary disposal of the matter in the district court, while gardaí said there were no criminal overtones. The accused's connection to two other individuals was purely because he possessed a compressor for filling gas cannisters for air rifles."

"The court also heard that Mr Borza was fully licensed for all his shooting activities. He had more ammunition than he was entitled to have. A garda said that he had no reason to doubt that he was storing it for shooting competitions abroad. He competed internationally in clay pigeon shooting. Solicitor Frank McDonnell said over a number of years his client had accumulated more ammunition than the terms of his authorisation. When he travelled for competitions he required more."

"Judge Nicola Andrews put the case back to July 20 for a €500 donation to the court fund in order for the Probation Act to be applied. Mr McDonnell said that there was consent to the firearms being returned on foot of a Police Property Application. The excess ammunition could be forfeited to the State. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme"

Read at Irish Independent