This article is from page 15 of the 2013-04-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
A WEST Clare man could have his Olympic dreams dashed if he goes to prison for firearms and drugs offences.
Weightlifter Sean McNamara is a Munster and All-Ireland titleholder. The 21 year-old also holds two under 23 national records and has been short listed for the Irish weightlifting squad for the 2014 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Mr McNamara, with an address Doonogan, Mullagh, appeared at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, having pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a sawn-off double barrel shotgun. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply.
The items were uncovered during a raid by the Clare Division Drugs Unit at Doonogan, Mullagh on October 16 (2010).
Detective Garda Stephen Hession told the court the gun along with 29.82 grammes of cocaine, glucose for mixing and a weighing scales were found in an abandoned farmhouse across the accused’s home.
Det Hession said the accused was under pressure to store the gun from other parties.
The court heard that at the time Mr McNamara was part of gang involved in drug dealing in North and West Clare. The gang, the court heard, was headed by a 17 year-old who had “control” over the accused.
Det Hession said the gun was sourced following an altercation between the gang and other parties carrying axes in Kilrush during October 2010. The court heard that the shotgun had been stolen in Kilrush in 2009. Mr McNamara had no connection with the theft, the court heard. Det Hession said the gun was sourced as a “scare tactic.”
Text messages sent by the 17-yearold from Mr McNamara’s phone were also read out in court by Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL.
One of the messages sent by the 17 year-old stated; “Getting tooled up. Kilrush is going to get a shock.”
Det Hession said Mr McNamara co-operated with gardaí and has since broken all connections with the gang. He added, “I believe he was apprehended at the right time before anything serious happened.”
Defence Counsel, Michael Collins BL, said his client had “started hanging out with the wrong crowd and was completely out of his depth.”
Mr Collins said his client acknowledged that these offences may “jeopardize” his involvement in the Olympics.
Mr Collins urged the Court not to impose a custodial sentence as it might harm his client’s Olympics hopes. Judge Gerard Keyes adjourned the case to June 18.