Garda detective tells court 3d printed guns are becoming “more prevalent” in the country

By Eimear Dodd

A garda detective has told a court that 3d printed guns are becoming “more prevalent” in the country.

Detective Garda Niall White made the comment during the sentence hearing of Craig McKeever (21) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

McKeever of Virginia Park, Finglas, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty to possession of a 3d printed .22 calibre pistol and three rounds of ammunition.

“These are guns which are printed on a 3d printer machine are becoming more prevalent in country,” Det Gda White told Judge Elma Sheahan.

He said these guns are “small in nature and easy to conceal”, are “made of polymer” and are not detectable using a metal detector.

They are a functional and lethal weapon, he said.

Det Gda White noted that 3d printers can be bought for any number of reasons, and “if you get the correct programme, you can print a lethal firearm like this”.

McKeever was yesterday handed a sentence of four years and six months, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions.

Det Gda White told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that gardai were on patrol in the Inchicore area on June 24, 2025 when they spotted McKeever and another man getting into a taxi.

They asked McKeever to get out of the taxi. After getting a strong smell of cannabis from him, they told him they were going to search him.

After caution, McKeever said he had a bag of weed and was wearing a bulletproof vest.

€500 of cannabis was found in a pocket of his jacket.

As the bulletproof vest was unstrapped, an army green .22 pistol fell out and landed on the ground.

The court was told it appeared it had been concealed under the vest.

McKeever was arrested and the pistol was seized.

It was loaded with one round of ammunition, while two other rounds were also found.

The pistol was made safe and when analysed by the Garda Technical Bureau, the gun was found to be in working order and could discharge the type of ammunition found.

McKeever told gardai that he was wearing the bulletproof vest after being informed by gardai of a verified threat against his life.

He said during interview: “I picked it up to deliver it, that’s all I’m saying.”

When asked if he was carrying the gun for his own protection, McKeever replied: “Just delivering.”

McKeever has 14 previous convictions, including one for theft, one for drugs and nine for road traffic offences.

Det Gda White agreed with Kieran Kelly BL, defending, that gardai didn’t know McKeever was wearing a bulletproof vest or carrying the gun when they stopped him.

It was further accepted that McKeever’s entire family has received notices from gardai of a verified threat to their lives.

Mr Kelly said his instructions are that McKeever was in a relationship with a girl which led to the ire of someone who was previously in a relation with her.

Det Gda White said he was aware of a feud, but not of its origin.

Counsel continued that his instructions are that McKeever was challenged to a “straightener” by this third party, won and that day his family home was firebombed.

The garda said the house was set on fire in July 2024.

The garda agreed that there is no suggestion that McKeever had the technology to make the gun, and that he came forward from the District Court on signed guilty pleas.

Det Gda White also accepted that McKeever has not come to garda attention since this incident and has been keeping a low profile.

A letter from McKeever’s father and two neighbours were handed to the court.

McKeever’s father took the stand and outlined how the family had been subjected to intimidation with their home firebombed and a pipe bomb thrown into the property some time later.

He said that the entire family received notices from gardai about a threat to them.

“We’re all devastated about what has happened,” he said, adding that the family go out together as Craig can’t go out alone.

Mr Kelly asked the court to consider the surrounding circumstances, noting that it is “not an excuse to have a firearm but it puts things in context”.

He said while his client won a boxing match, he suffered a “defeat in life” and has been subject to intimidation.

Imposing sentence, Judge Sheahan said the court was “only too aware of the trauma and detriment caused to society by the use of guns on the streets” of Dublin and around the country.

The judge noted that McKeever had entered a signed guilty plea adding it “must be viewed in the context of the evidence that the accused was caught red-handed”.

Judge Sheahan said McKeever has no similar previous convictions, has not been in custody before and that this offence represents a “serious escalation” in his offending.

The judge noted the gun was armed and in working order.

“By any measure, this is serious offending”, the judge said, adding that while McKeever and his family faced very difficult circumstances, “the law cannot be taken into one’s own hands”.

The judge said the court’s view was that the custodial threshold had been crossed and handed McKeever a sentence of four years and six months with the final six months suspended on strict conditions.

She directed that McKeever should be given credit for any time served in custody on this matter alone.