Mother Convicted On Firearms Charges

A Dutch mother of three has been jailed for the possession of firearms.

The woman, Caroline Van Dongeren, 32, was given a three-year sentence after a search at her home uncovered two magazines each containing 10 rounds of ammunition.

The woman’s partner, Alan Coffey, also 32 and father of six - who was famously convicted in 2006 over one of the state’s largest ever heroin seizures, - was jailed for 15 years last November for possession of the drugs, valued at €5.75 million.

Ms Van Dongeren of The Lane, Foxlodge Wood, Ratoath had the final 18 months of her sentence suspended on account of her three young children.

Judge Tony Hunt said: "I have no doubt she is a good and decent mother but I have to bear in mind the other children out there who, had the gardai not intervened, might have been injured by the objects she was convicted for.

"Firearms are a serious risk to the health and well-being of society as a whole as well as the individual therein," he added.

The Judge had directed a 'not guilty' verdict to the jury on a second charge of possession of a Luger Glock sidearm. The weapon is thought to have belonged to her partner.

Van Dongeren came to Ireland to work as part of her studies in marketing and had been living here for seven years.

She worked in IBM for four years and during that time met Coffey with whom she had three children.

Counsel noted that according to her probation report, the Dutch national had a 'low risk' of re-offending.

(DW)