Woman who walked into city centre bar with fake gun and said 'I'm in the IRA' avoids jail
by John Cassidy · Irish MirrorA 52-year-old Belfast woman has avoided jail after brandishing an imitation firearm at a city centre bar and declaring: "I'm in the IRA."
Karen O'Brien was given a six-month suspended sentence on Thursday for the offence. Delivering his verdict, Judge Philip Gilpin acknowledged the seriousness of the crime but opted for a suspended sentence, saying that although the custody threshold had been passed, he was imposing a six-month sentence, suspended for a year, reports Belfast Live.
Belfast Crown Court was informed that on May 26, 2023, at about 2 pm, the Morning Star bar and restaurant staff called the police, reporting a threatening woman with a gun. Prosecutor Kate McKay detailed how police descriptions and CCTV footage helped apprehend O'Brien, who was caught with a black handgun, later revealed to be a BB gun, in her possession.
"A description of this defendant was given and her direction of travel after she left the bar," stated Mrs McKay. She added: "Using their city centre CCTV system, police located the defendant. She was arrested and searched and a black handgun was found in her handbag. It was in fact a BB gun."
Witnesses from the bar recounted seeing O'Brien aim the gun at patrons while making her claim about being in the IRA. As for what spurred the incident, defence lawyer Aileen Smith mentioned O'Brien's annoyance over being denied service, picking up a half pint of beer, and sitting outside before the arrest.
Upon detainment, with body cameras rolling, O'Brien told officers: "It was a joke." During police questioning, O'Brien informed officers that she had been at a house and was asked to leave, and must have put the gun in her handbag as she collected her belongings. She confessed to being intoxicated at the bar and acknowledged her issues with alcohol.
She told the police that she didn't recall saying 'I'm in the IRA' and apologised for her actions, adding: "I am an alcoholic after all."
O'Brien conceded that her actions would have been "scary" for those she pointed the gun at, and the only excuse she could provide for her behaviour was alcohol. When Judge Gilpin asked what O'Brien's intention was with the gun, Mrs McKay responded: "To be perfectly honest, I don't think she was in any fit state to form any intention due to her intoxication."
In defence submissions, the court heard that O'Brien was university-educated and had plans to become a teacher. The court was informed that she began abusing alcohol after being seriously assaulted in her 30s. Her alcohol addiction has resulted in numerous hospital admissions.
This year alone, she has been admitted to hospital 38 times, mostly due to her alcohol problems. She told her probation officer that she is a recovering alcoholic, that she last worked in 2012, and that she is living off benefits. O'Brien expressed regret for her behaviour to the probation officer, stating that she was embarrassed and deeply regretted it.
The court heard that O'Brien racked up 77 prior convictions, including assaults on police, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, and theft. Judge Gilpin remarked that the gun's deceptive appearance "had a realistic look to it" and warned that anyone seeing it would believe it was genuine.
"It is a concern to this court that you carried an imitation firearm in a state of voluntary intoxication," said Judge Gilpin, expressing alarm over the defendant’s actions. The judge acknowledged the fear spurred in the public as he continued: "You did pull out this weapon in a public place and it was exposed to a number of people. While it was an imitation weapon, it was one you produced and those who encountered you with it would not have initially known that it was an imitation weapon and must have been concerned about your behaviour."
Judge Gilpin consented to the request for the weapon's destruction, put forward by the prosecution.
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