Boss of gun-running ring that smuggled military-grade weapons from US into Ireland was caught ‘red-handed’

“Tell them 75k and I’ll throw in the 10 pipes for free,” McCourt told one prospective customer

Mark McCourt

The leader a gun-running ring smuggling arms into Ireland from the US has been jailed for 12 years after being caught “red-handed” in a garda raid.

Mark McCourt (34) of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court today having pleaded guilty in July participation in a criminal organisation’s efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and possession of firearms.

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