Male carrying ‘firearm’ in Mullingar estate ‘needs urgent investigation’

On Wednesday last, residents in Lakepoint say they saw a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle walking through the estate at around 2.30pm.

The garda press office, in response to a query from the Westmeath Examiner, stated: “The matter was reported and responded to by local Gardaí. Enquires are ongoing.”

Darren Mills, chair of the Lakepoint Residents Association, commenting on the incident, said: “This should be treated as a guy walking around with a firearm until authorities know further – if there’s someone seen with a firearm and it’s reported to the guards, the estate should be closed down.”

The resident who reported the matter said they also informed Westmeath County Council.

“It happened in broad daylight when school children are due to come home. I was stunned for a moment because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” said one resident, while another added, “It’s like something straight out of a Rambo movie.” The male was seen leaving Lakepoint through a wooded area in the direction of property understood to be owned by the HSE.

A number of antisocial incidents have been reported in that area, and residents have called for the ground to be secured.

Mr Mills said: “We have witnessed an escalation in antisocial behaviour in recent months, park benches have had to be removed because of youths congregating, and there has been some threatening behaviour, people getting their cars and doors kicked.

“But now there is photographic evidence of a guy walking around the estate with a rifle – let’s not call it anything else until proven otherwise – walking around a populated area with a rifle over his shoulder, and what’s been done about it?”

It is unclear what it actually was, but Mr Mills says the gardaí should investigate with the full rigours of the law. “It may be that it’s an air rifle, but we don’t know that for certain, and children don’t know that,” Mr Mills said.

“Or it could be .22 rifle with a suppressor on it, you could shoot that rifle in there all day long and the person next door wouldn’t hear it because of the silencer, it will just sound like puffs of air.”

According to Irish law, crossbows, spearguns and all airguns with a muzzle velocity of over 1 joule are legally considered firearms and have to be licensed.

“Small calibre rifles can be suppressed and they’re the easiest ones to get a hold of,” said Mr Mills.

People have these rifles for sporting reasons, but you don’t walk around a housing estate with them, he said

“With air rifles they have to under a certain joule to be legal, but I’m sure you can soup them up like you can the scooters. The residents association have not heard anything further from the guards, we would like to see this investigated within the full rigours of the law.”