Caught with a stun gun - help

qwerty eire

I've been caught with a stun gun that I brought back from Thailand recently. I am being charged under the fire arms and offensive weapons act by the gardai.
I have no idea of the sentence I will receive. Can anyone shed any light on the matter? I read in wikianswers the following " I have been practising law in the Republic of Ireland for the past 10 years and can categorically confirm that there is nothing in Irish law to prevent any citizen from purchasing or using a stun gun, accept on animals, once the device has an electrical output less than 900,000 volts".
Is there any truth in this???

445279.ie

Stun guns are illegal

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1990/en/act/pub/0012/sec0004.html#zza12y1990s4

MagicSean

qwerty eire wrote: »

I've been caught with a stun gun that I brought back from Thailand recently. I am being charged under the fire arms and offensive weapons act by the gardai.
I have no idea of the sentence I will receive. Can anyone shed any light on the matter? I read in wikianswers the following " I have been practising law in the Republic of Ireland for the past 10 years and can categorically confirm that there is nothing in Irish law to prevent any citizen from purchasing or using a stun gun, accept on animals, once the device has an electrical output less than 900,000 volts".
Is there any truth in this???

Dont hire that solicitor.

questionmark?

In what way were you caught? i.e. trying to use it on somebody or just showing it off?

More worryingly how did you get it back from Thailand our customs are clearly not doing their job.

Miaireland

I would suggest contact a Solicitor. They would probably give you the best advice.

Jev/N

Miaireland wrote: »

I would suggest contact a Solicitor. They would probably give you the best advice.

Oh the ironing is delicious

Reloc8

qwerty eire wrote: »

I've been caught with a stun gun that I brought back from Thailand recently. I am being charged under the fire arms and offensive weapons act by the gardai.
I have no idea of the sentence I will receive. Can anyone shed any light on the matter? I read in wikianswers the following " I have been practising law in the Republic of Ireland for the past 10 years and can categorically confirm that there is nothing in Irish law to prevent any citizen from purchasing or using a stun gun, accept on animals, once the device has an electrical output less than 900,000 volts".
Is there any truth in this???

None. It's absolute nonsense.

Section 4 of the 1990 linked to above specifically includes within the definition of a firearm 'any type of stun gun or other weapon for causing any shock or other disablement to a person by means of electricity or any other kind of energy emission'.

And in any event, a stun gun would always have come within the definition of an offensive weapon where carried in a public place.

There are a wide variety of offences with varying sentencing provisions.

You need advice from a fully instructed criminal solicitor.

tommythai

A similar thing happened to me. I bought a stun gun in Thailand which was freely and openly for sale in a Tourist area, I bought it along with other souvenirs and thought nothing of it. However it is illegal in UK and Ireland. Mine was found out at Stansted Airport in my check in luggage. Stun Guns are Personal Defence Weapons and are legal in 43 States in the USA, also they are legal in some countries in mainland Europe, and most of Asia.
In your case if this is your first offence and the gardai establish your a decent chap and you had no sinister intent, then i imagine you'll probaly just get an offical warning or similar, or in court discharged with a small fine.

In my case at Stansted Airport, I was arrested, cautioned and released...see cos I'd never been arrested before and they said that i was foolish in bringing it home with me..The cops said to me,some things are legal in one country but are illegal in another country..the onus is on me to make myself aware of whats legal and not.... (its an easy mistake to make, take care about what you buy when on holidays.. an item may be legal and openly for sale in one country, but may not be legal in your home country)
However if one has previous arrests and the cops sus out your a bit of a scum bag and had sinister intent then you could be dealt with harshly because it is classed as a firearm in Ireland & UK. On the other hand if your a nice law abiding boy then the cops will normally use their discretion.

See the link below, in 2003 three Gardai on holidays done something similar themselves while in Berlin.... [[Use this article in the link below in your defence, and quote Superintendant John Farrelly.. lol lol lol],


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/3151472.stm

jakdelad

k_mac wrote: »

Dont hire that solicitor.

lol pissing myself laughing
he s been practicing for ten years????
wonder if he s on rate my solicitor


where you going on holidays
thailand??/ great value in stunguns

Zambia

Quite frankly I'm "shocked"

Sorry my bad ... I mean see a solicitor.

Is it allowed to ask as your on the net like, why you wanted such a device?

Yawns

To help him sleep at night