Pointed realistic imitation firearm at relative

By Eimear Dodd

A man who pointed a realistic-looking imitation firearm at a relative following a row has been handed a fully suspended sentence.

Gheorghita Ilie (23) of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm on June 5, 2021.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that the injured party was at home when she overheard her husband talking to a man she knew as ‘Alex’ – Ilie – outside.

Ilie told her husband that she was having an affair, and she went outside to confront him.

An argument ensued, after which Ilie returned to his residence across the road.

He came back out a few minutes later and, while standing on the steps of this property, produced a black handgun before returning inside.

The injured party was standing outside Ilie’s residence when he emerged with the imitation firearm. No words were spoken between the parties at this point.

The injured party was very frightened, along with her husband and parents, who were also present.

Gardai, including specialist officers were called to the scene.

Ilie opened the door and identified the imitation firearm. He was then arrested.

During interview, he told gardai that he bought the gun in a shop in Ireland and was told not to wear the weapon on his belt.

He said he kept it in a nightstand and said he bought it to play with, and he bought bullets that were not finished yet.

He refused to comment on the allegations made about the injured party and did not admit to coming out of his home again.

The court heard Ilie is Romanian and is married to a relative of the injured party.

The gun was seized and found to be a 6mm calibre air pistol, which appeared to be a realistic firearm.

Photos of the weapon were handed into court.

A local gardai agreed with John Moher BL, defending, that CCTV shows his client in possession of the weapon.

It was further accepted that Ilie invited gardai into his home, and handed the gun over to them.

She also accepted that it is plausible that Ilie may have felt panicked as there were a large number of people in the vicinity of his home.

The court heard that there were people on the street outside Ilie’s home, including the injured party.

Mr Moher suggested to the court that there was evidence that his client was feeling intimidated at the time of the incident.

He said Ilie is sorry for his actions and “panicked on the day”, but is aware there is no justification for his behaviour.

He noted that Ilie was 20 at the time and moved to Ireland in 2020.

Ilie was working at the time and has since moved to Manchester with his wife and young daughter for work.

A number of references and a letter of apology were handed into the court.

Mr Clarke asked the court to consider a non-custodial option when imposing a sentence.

Judge Pauline Codd said the court noted that this incident occurred after a disagreement escalated.

She said Ilie’s actions were “inexcusable” and put the injured party in fear.

She said the weapon was a “serious-looking object to produce in a public place in the manner in which he did”.

The judge noted that Ilie pointed the weapon and then returned to the house.

She said she accepted there was some fear on his part, but “nothing justifies what he did”.

Judge Codd said she took into consideration the mitigating features, including Ilie’s guilty plea, cooperation with gardai and his pro-social history.

She imposed a two-year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.