A father of three found with a M16 machine gun used in war zones in Shannon has stated that getting caught was for the best as it prevented the gun being ever used.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Evan Little said that the reason he stored the weapon in a forested area at Clonmoney West in Shannon was that he was scared that people he owed a €12,000 drug debt to would harm his partner and their children, aged 11, 7 and 4.
In the case, Mr Little (33) of Inis Eagla, Shannon has pleaded guilty to the possession of the M16 machine gun, 179 rounds of ammunition and a 30 round capacity magazine in a forested area at Shannon last September.
Tree surgeon, Mr Little has been on remand in custody since local Gardai and members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) swooped on Mr Little during a surveillance operation on the military grade weapon on September 15th last.
In a letter penned by Mr Little to Judge Francis Comerford read out in open court, he said that he wanted to express his “deepest remorse” for his actions.
Mr Little said: “On reflection this could have led to dire consequences – I had no right to do what I had done.”
“I now believe that getting caught with the fire-arm was for the best as to prevent it ever being used.”
“I know in my heart of hearts that if that happened, it would be the end of me. I would certainly never want anything bad to ever happen to anyone.”
He said: “I can truly say that I am racked with guilt over this awful decision I made.”
He said: “It has had a knock-on effect on a number of people – my partner and my children are never far from my mind.”
Mr Little said: “I feel terrible for the rest of my family for bringing shame to our name. I don’t believe that I am a bad person but I made some very poor choices.
Mr Little said that he has three friends who have died in recent years.
He said: “Five years ago, l lost a friend to suicide and this I think led to a decline and I got very depressed after. Two and a half years ago, the same thing happened to another friend and a year ago the same thing happened again.”
He said that he turned to drugs after the most recent death and ran up the drugs debt.
He said: “The people I got the drugs off threatened me and my family. I was scared that they would hurt my partner and children and that is the reason I agreed to hide the gun for them.
“It was a terrible decision to make but I was under duress…
I was caught between a rock and another rock.”
He said: “It breaks my heart that I let myself, my partner and my children down. Seeing the kids cry at prison visits breaks my heart.”
In the read out by his counsel, Patrick Whyms BL (inst by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) Mr Little said that he knows that he has to be punished but asked Judge Comerford for leniency.
In a separate letter by Mr Little’s partner read out by Mr Whyms, she said that Mr Little “is a good man, hard working and a good Dad who went down a bad road
She said: “Evan went for a walk with the dog as he would have most days and never came home – the kids are very affected by this.”
She said: “He has never been in trouble in his life and I am sure this is his first and last time.”
Mr Whyms said that Mr Little’s letter was very insightful and he is very remorseful.
He said that Mr Little is not a threat to society and asked that a substantial portion of the sentence be suspended.
Garda Gerald Cunningham of Shannon Garda Station told the court that Mr Little’s only previous convictions are for public order and simple drugs possession.
He said that an examination of Mr Little’s phone found searches for different guns – pistols, rifles, machine guns.
Mr Whyms stated that Mr Little “has an almost unblemished record and has had almost no contact with the criminal justice system”.
Mr Whyms stated that he has a reference from a tree care firm and the letter states that they will have work for Mr Little in the future.
Judge Francis Comerford said that he would give judgement on Friday (tomorrow) and further remanded Mr Little in custody to then.
