Belfast woman who pulled out imitation gun and said ‘I’m in the IRA’ in city bar gets suspended sentence

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/belfast-woman-who-pulled-out-imitation-gun-and-said-im-in-the-ira-in-city-bar-gets-suspended-sentence/a117770459.html

A west Belfast woman who walked into a city centre bar, pulled out an imitation gun and said "I'm in the IRA” was handed a suspended sentence today.
Karen O'Brien (52), of Lenadoon Avenue, pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying an imitation firearm in a public place.

Judge Philip Gilpin said that although the custody threshold had been passed, he was imposing a six-month sentence, suspended for a year.

Belfast Crown Court heard that on May 26, 2023, at around 2pm, police received a call from a member of staff from the Morning Star bar and restaurant in Pottinger's Entry.

Prosecution barrister Kate McKay said police were told that a woman was in the bar who had a gun and was threatening people.

"A description of this defendant was given and her direction of travel after she left the bar,'' said Mrs McKay.

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.''

Two members of the bar staff told police that they witnessed the defendant pointing the gun at customers and saying: "I'm in the IRA.''

Explaining the background of the incident, defence barrister Aileen Smith said O'Brien had been refused service in the Morning Star. She lifted a half-pint of beer and went outside to sit at a picnic-style table.

When arrested by police, officers turned on their body-worn cameras and recorded her saying: "It was a joke.''

During interviews, O'Brien told officers that she had been at a house and was asked to leave and must have put the gun in her handbag as she gathered up her belongings.

She said she was intoxicated at the bar and admitted she had problems with alcohol. She told police that she didn't remember saying 'I'm in the IRA' and apologised for her actions, adding: "I am an alcoholic after all.''

O'Brien accepted it would have been "scary'' for those she pointed the gun at and the only excuse she could offer for her behaviour was alcohol.

Asked by Judge Gilpin what O'Brien's intention was in the having the gun, Mrs McKay replied: "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 was told O'Brien was educated to university level and planned to become a teacher.

The court heard she started to abuse alcohol after she was seriously assaulted in her 30s

Her alcohol addiction has led to a considerable number of hospital admissions. This year alone, she has been in hospital on 38 occasions, mostly related to her alcohol problems.

She told her probation officer that she is a recovering alcoholic, adding that she last worked in 2012 and was living off benefits.

O'Brien told the probation officer she was sorry for her behaviour, was embarrassed and very much regretted it.

The court noted that O'Brien had 77 previous convictions which included entries for assaults on police, criminal damage, disorderly behaviour and theft offences.

Judge Gilpin said the gun "had a realistic look to it'' and any person confronted would have thought it was a realistic weapon.

It is a concern to this court that you carried an imitation firearm in a state of voluntary intoxication,'' said Judge Gilpin.

"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 granted a prosecution application for a destruction of the weapon.