Gun brandished in Westport pubs

Anton McNulty

A MAN in his late 30s was arrested in Westport last week after he walked into a number of pubs in the town brandishing what is believed to have been a small pellet gun.
The man, who is understood to be from north Mayo, was arrested on Monday evening last, May 21, after he was reported for carrying a handgun around Westport. He was arrested by gardaí in McCarthy’s Bar on Quay Street. After finding the handgun hidden down the man’s trousers, it was seized and the man was arrested under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and brought to Westport Garda Station. He was later released without charge, and a file is currently being prepared for the DPP.
The hand gun has been sent for analysis, but it is understood that it was a pellet gun, and was capable of being used.
The Mayo News understands that the man had been in a number of pubs in Westport that afternoon and had pointed the weapon at a number of people.
It is understood he had been drinking on the day and was intoxicated when he was located by gardaí.

Booze theft
Separately, gardaí in Westport are investigating the theft of over  €100 worth of alcohol from the Westport Woods Hotel over the weekend.
The alcohol was taken from the function room of the hotel, which was not in use at the time, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Gardaí believe the person entered through a back door in the hotel and they are currently studying CCTV footage in the hotel in order to trackdown the culprit.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230.