Successfully appealed decision to revoke firearm licence
Carlow Court House. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A MAN who has held a firearm since he was 16 years old successfully appealed the gardaí’s decision to revoke his licence at a recent sitting of Carlow District Court.
Supt Farrell explained that the refusal of the applicant’s most recent licence renewal was based on a conviction on 26 November 2024 at Naas Circuit Court. Colin Holmes Walker (35) of Kilcoltrim, Borris, Co Carlow received a community service order for blackmail, extortion and public order offences. Supt Farrell told the court that he regarded this conviction as at the higher end of seriousness.
He noted that Mr Holmes Walker had held two firearms licences since that incident, which dated back to 2017.
Solicitor Chris Hogan asked the superintendent if he accepted that Mr Holmes Walker had good reason for having a firearm. Mr Hogan said his client was involved in a shooting club and provided assistance to farmers. Supt Farrell agreed.
He also agreed that he had received references from landowners on whose land Mr Holmes Walker shoots and had provided details of his membership of Bennekerry Gun Club. Within three days of receiving the notice that his licence had been revoked, the applicant had handed in his firearm.
Mr Holmes Walker took the stand to explain to the court that he had been “hunting all his life” and had held a firearm since he was 16 years old. He said he used his firearm to help landowners to protect their crops, for animal welfare reasons and vermin control.
He said he had never had an incident with the guns and stored them securely in “a safe in a safe” with a monitored alarm.
Supt Farrell asked the defendant while he was testifying if he understood how serious his conviction in 2024 had been, to which he replied that he did. Asked to demonstrate how he had learned from the incident, Mr Holmes Walker said he was “around bad company” at the time of the offence and had “been on the straight and narrow” since.
Judge Geraldine Carthy granted the application.
