Home / Crime and Justice / Mastermind of Deadly Gun-Running Ring Faces Lengthy Jail Sentence
Mastermind of Deadly Gun-Running Ring Faces Lengthy Jail Sentence
31 Jul
Summary
- Gun-running boss could face up to 14 years in prison
- Smuggled weapons and ammunition from US to criminal groups
- Garda investigation uncovered 82 gun parts assembled into 18 firearms
According to a court hearing on July 31, 2025, the boss of a gun-running ring that smuggled weapons and ammunition from the US to criminal organizations in Ireland could face up to 14 years in prison. The defendant, Mark McCourt, previously pleaded guilty to firearms offenses and participating in a criminal organization's efforts to import restricted weapons.
Garda investigators, led by Detective Inspector Shane McCartan, uncovered the massive firearms smuggling operation last year. During a raid, a firearms technician was able to assemble 82 gun parts seized into 6 assault rifles and a dozen pistols. The Garda were able to extract data from McCourt's seized phone, which revealed conversations with prospective customers about the sale of firearms and even pipe bombs.
McCourt and his co-accused had traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023, likely to source the weapons. The Garda believe the criminal organization under McCourt's control was responsible for importing the firearms components from the US and reassembling them for distribution to other criminal groups in Ireland.
