Clare man pleads guilty over seizure of machine gun and ammunition in forest

A FATHER of three school going children and a “law abiding PAYE worker” has signed guilty pleas relating to the unlawful possession of an M16 machine gun used in war zones, 179 rounds of ammunition and a 30 round-capacity magazine in a forested area at Shannon last year.

At Ennis District Court this Wednesday, Evan Little, aged 32, of Inis Eagla, Shannon, Co Clare signed the guilty pleas in the presence of Judge Alec Gabbett and his solicitor, Daragh Hassett

He faces three firearms charges arising from a garda operation on September 15, 2023.

Mr Little - currently on remand in custody - will now go forward to Ennis Circuit Court where he will be sentenced.

Judge Gabbett said he acknowledged the signed guilty pleas but stated that he technically needed to give Mr Little the alibi warning concerning the three charges in the event that Mr Little changed his guilty pleas before his circuit court appearance.

Mr Little - who had a number of supporters in court for his court appearance - confirmed he signed the guilty pleas and said: "Thanks judge.”

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Mr Hassett asked that the legal aid cert be extended to cover one counsel in the circuit court for the moment commenting: “They are serious charges.”

Mr Little signing the pleas removes the burden of the State having to compile a Book of Evidence in the case.

Mr Little is charged with the unlawful possession of an M16 assault rifle and 179 rounds of ammunition in a forested area at Clonmoney West, Shannon on September 15, 2023.

He is also charged with having unlawful possession of a 30 round-capacity magazine on the same .

Mr Little, who was first arrested arising from a joint operation between the Emergency Response Unit and the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit, has been on remand in custody since last September after being first refused bail in the district court and in the High Court in November.

At the district court bail hearing last September, Mr Hassett said that his client “is a law abiding PAYE worker” and that his client’s time in custody is the first time Mr Little has ever spent time in prison.

Detective Garda Ger Cunningham said that 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.

Mr Little is a qualified tree surgeon.

On the weapon seized, Judge Alec Gabbett commented last September: “This is a machine gun. This is the type of automatic rifle used in war zones.”

Mr Little will appear before Ennis Circuit Court next month.