Father and son remanded in custody at Longford court

A father and son charged with unlawful possession of a sawn-off pump action shotgun and ammunition have been remanded in custody with consent to bail following a sitting of Longford District Court this morning.

John Joe Nevin (54), of Columb Drive, Mullingar, and David Nevin (33), of the Cedars, Lakepoint, Mullingar, were arrested on Wednesday August 9, in relation to an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in Mullingar.

A plain clothes garda patrol attached to Mullingar Garda Station had directed a vehicle to stop and it failed to do so for a period of time.

When the car eventually stopped, a male occupant, now known to be David Nevin, fled the vehicle. He was chased and apprehended by gardaí and arrested. A bag that had been discarded during the foot chase was recovered by gardaí and the firearm and ammunition were seized.

Subsequently the second occupant of the vehicle, John Joe Nevin, was arrested.

A number of follow-up searches were conducted at residential premises in the Mullingar area and a number of items of evidence were also seized.

Both men were charged with offences under the Firearms Act, for unlawful possession of the weapon and five cartridges.

John Joe Nevin has three additional related charges for dangerous driving at Ashe Road, Columb Drive and Cathedral View in Mullingar on the same date.

Bail was set at €20,000 for each of the two men, and an application for independent surety is to be heard at Harristown District Court tomorrow, Friday, morning.

An address in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, was provided for the purpose of bail. Both men are required to sign on daily at Longford Garda Station.

Judge Cronin remanded both men in custody with consent to bail. They are due to reappear at Longford District Court on August 31.