A Ballinasloe man accused of possessing a Glock pistol, a shotgun and almost 20 rounds of ammunition is to stand trial before a judge and jury after his case was sent forward from Ballinasloe District Court to Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Damien O’Connor (47), of Cúlán Esker Riada, Dunlo, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, is facing firearms charges relating to two dates and two locations, one in Co Roscommon and one in his home town, the Tuam Herald reported on Friday, 30 October.
The charges
According to the Tuam Herald, the charges against Mr O’Connor allege that he:
- had a side-by-side shotgun and a Glock pistol in his possession at River Village, Tuam Road, Athlone, Co Roscommon, on 8 January 2025;
- had 18 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition and one round of 9mm Makarov ammunition at the same place on the same date;
- had a Glock pistol or a sawn-off shotgun in his possession at Garbally Demesne, Ballinasloe, on 27 December 2024.
The newspaper reported that he faces four charges in total, although only three were described in its report. Mr O’Connor has not entered a plea, the allegations have not been tested in court, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Book of evidence served
The case came before Judge James Faughnan at Ballinasloe District Court. Garda Karen Fitzgerald of Moylough Garda Station told the court she had served a book of evidence on the accused, the file that sets out the case the State intends to make at trial.
Garda Sergeant Christy Browne told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the accused being sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.
Judge Faughnan gave Mr O’Connor the standard alibi warning, which requires an accused person who intends to rely on an alibi at trial to give the State notice of it within a strict time limit. He was then remanded on bail to appear before Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Second Ballinasloe case sent forward
At the same court, another case was also sent forward to the Circuit Court, the Tuam Herald reported. Juliano Ciwinski, of 10 Slí na hAbhainn, Ballinasloe, is charged with assault causing harm to a man and with possession of a Stanley blade, both allegedly at St Michael Square in Ballinasloe on 7 September 2025.
Judge Faughnan had previously declined jurisdiction in that case, meaning he considered the alleged offences too serious to be dealt with in the District Court. Garda Fitzgerald served a book of evidence, Sgt Browne confirmed the DPP’s consent to trial on indictment, and Mr Ciwinski was given the alibi warning and remanded on bail to the Galway Circuit Criminal Court. He, too, is presumed innocent and has not entered a plea.
Why firearms charges are treated so seriously
Firearms offences are among the most serious charges that can come before the Irish courts. Unlawful possession of a firearm or ammunition is an offence under the Firearms Acts, and some firearms offences carry mandatory minimum sentences on conviction unless exceptional circumstances apply.
When the DPP directs that a case be tried on indictment, it moves from the District Court, where a judge sits alone and sentencing powers are limited, to the Circuit Court, where an accused is tried by a jury and the court has far greater sentencing powers.
What happens next
Both men were remanded on bail to the October sittings of Galway Circuit Criminal Court. At their first appearance before that court, a trial date is normally fixed, or a date is set for arraignment, when the accused is formally asked how he pleads. As the October sittings were ending at the time of the report, the next dates may be fixed for the court’s November or later sittings.
Trials at Galway Circuit Criminal Court can take many months to be listed, depending on the court’s caseload. Connemara Journal will report on any further developments heard in open court.
Sources
- Tuam Herald: Man allegedly found with guns and ammo sent for trial (30 October 2026)
- Tuam Herald: Serious assault charge for the circuit court (30 October 2026)
Featured image: The Courthouse, Courthouse Square, Galway – panoramio.jpg by Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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