Gardai arrested a man after footage emerged of him brandishing what appeared to be a handgun in the middle of a busy Dublin street.
Shocking footage emerged on Monday of the man, hobbling around and caressing what looked like a Glock pistol on Tara Street in Dublin city centre. The video, which went viral on social media, was filmed by a stunned onlooker who witnessed the man walking around with the apparent weapon in broad daylight.
Gardai in Pearse Street were alerted by several members of the public that a man appeared to be walking around the city centre with a gun. Officers apprehended the man on the nearby George’s Quay moments later — and “disarmed” him on the street.
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In a statement gardai confirmed that a man in his 30s was arrested on Monday and remained in custody yesterday. “Gardaí were alerted to a number of reports of a man in the area with a suspected firearm.
“He was disarmed, arrested and conveyed to Pearse Street Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939,” a Garda spokesman said . It is understood that gardai now believe the gun is a replica — but it is understood that this is still considered to be a “firearm” and an offence for a person to carry.
Recent legislation makes it an offence for a person to possess a realistic imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. And speaking to The Star, local Dublin city councillor Mannix Flynn said this is part of a larger problem of crime in Dublin — and he says people are living in genuine fear.
He said: “For me it’s all too often when you’re on the street and you confront somebody, chances are they will be weaponised.”
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