Daniel Quinn Burke pleads guilty to possessing dark web-purchased Remington pistol
Daniel Quinn Burke, a 22-year-old man, pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Court on 18 June 2025 to possessing a Remington semi-automatic pistol on 2 March 2024 at Ponsonby Bridge, near Straffan, Co Kildare. The pistol, a Heckler & Koch rifle and 42 rounds of ammunition, valued at approximately €2,700, were found during a controlled vehicle stop by the Garda National Organised Crime Bureau and Emergency Response Unit as part of a firearms trafficking operation. The weapons had been purchased on the Darknet and delivered face-to-face. Burke's co-defendant, 20-year-old man Shane Kinsella, had his case adjourned to 18 July, while the judge adjourned Burke's case to 7 October to seek a probation report.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 Jun
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Quinn Burke pleaded guilty to possessing a Remington semi-automatic pistol on 2 March 2024.
- A Heckler & Koch rifle, a Remington Rand semi-automatic pistol and 42 rounds of ammunition were found during the stop.
- Where
- The possession occurred at Ponsonby Bridge, near Straffan, Co Kildare.
- When
- The firearm was possessed on 2 March 2024.
- Investigation
- The Garda National Organised Crime Bureau and Emergency Response Unit performed a controlled stop of a vehicle as part of a firearms trafficking operation.
- In court
- The initial hearing took place at Naas District Court on 4 March 2024.
- Quinn Burke pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Court on 18 June 2025.
- The judge adjourned Quinn Burke's case to 7 October to seek a probation report and adjourned Kinsella's case to 18 July.
- Other details
- The firearms were valued at approximately €2,700 and were purchased on the Darknet with face-to-face delivery.
- Det Garda Gavin Curran said the items were not destined for organised criminals and were for shooting purposes in a wooded area.
- Quinn Burke, 22, had not been in court before and was previously described as an apprentice mechanic.
- Kinsella, 20, was described as a student, and the two defendants are lifelong friends.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatQuinn Burke pleaded guilty to possessing a Remington semi-automatic pistol (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Heckler & Koch rifle, a Remington Rand semi-automatic pistol and 42 rounds of ammunition were found (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe possession occurred at Ponsonby Bridge, near Straffan, Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe firearm was possessed on 2 March 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda National Organised Crime Bureau and Emergency Response Unit performed a controlled stop of a vehicle at Ponsonby Bridge (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrests were part of an operation to combat firearms trafficking (irishtimes.com)
- courtQuinn Burke appeared at Naas Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge sought a probation report and adjourned the case to 7 October (irishtimes.com)
- courtKinsella's case was adjourned to 18 July (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe initial hearing took place at Naas District Court on 4 March 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuinn Burke is 22 years old and had not been in court before (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuinn Burke was previously described as an apprentice mechanic (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe firearms were valued at approximately €2,700 and were bought on the Darknet (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe weapons and ammunition were delivered by face-to-face delivery (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendants are lifelong friends (irishtimes.com)
- otherDet Garda Gavin Curran said the items were not destined for organised criminals and were for shooting purposes in a wooded area (irishtimes.com)
- otherEvan Fitzgerald, then 21, a steel company worker from Kiltegan, died in a shooting incident at a Carlow shopping centre on 1 June (irishtimes.com)
- otherKinsella was described as a student and was aged 20 at the time (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jun2025Man pleads guilty in dark web firearms charge
First report of Quinn Burke's guilty plea at Naas Circuit Court; provides background on the dark web firearms purchase, the controlled stop at Ponsonby Bridge, and the involvement of the Garda National Organised Crime Bureau and Emergency Response Unit.
accused, Daniel Quinn Burke, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Quinn Burkeaccused, Shane Kinsella, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kinsella