Case No. 1781Possession of a firearm (semi-automatic rifle) · Co. Dublin · 1 Jan 2022
Glen Ward jailed for five and a half years for firing AR-15 rifle at house party in Finglas
On 1 January 2022, Glen Ward, 32, fired a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party, and video footage showed him encouraging his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll, 23, to take and discharge the firearm. In February 2022, gardai discovered the rifle alongside a sub-machine gun and a cache of ammunition during a search of a Finglas house, and in June 2022 a phone found in a taxi on the Tolka Valley Road was connected to O'Driscoll. Both men pleaded guilty to possession of the rifle, and O'Driscoll was previously jailed for five years. On 28 April 2025, the Special Criminal Court sentenced Ward to six years and three months with the final nine months suspended, effectively five and a half years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Apr
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- On 1 January 2022, Glen Ward, 32, fired a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party, and video footage showed him encouraging his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll, 23, to take and discharge the firearm, with a number of young people present and watching.
- Where
- The incident took place at an address in Finglas, Dublin.
- When
- The incident occurred on 1 January 2022.
- Weapon
- The firearm was a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and a Mac-11 submachine gun was also found by gardai.
- Investigation
- In February 2022, gardai discovered the rifle alongside a military sub-machine gun and a sizeable cache of ammunition during a search of a house in Finglas.
- In June 2022, gardai responded to reports that shots had been fired at a taxi on the Tolka Valley Road, and a phone found in the taxi was later connected to O'Driscoll.
- Charges
- Ward pleaded guilty to possessing the .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle on 1 January 2022 at an address in Finglas in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference he did not have it for a lawful purpose, and O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun.
- In court
- The sentencing took place at the Special Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, who noted a certain unreality to the suggestion that Ward had only a fleeting involvement with the firearm.
- Sentence
- Ward was sentenced to six years and three months with the final nine months suspended, effectively five and a half years, and must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after release or serve the suspended portion.
- O'Driscoll was previously jailed for five years for possession of the same firearm.
- Other details
- Ward was referred to as Mr Flashy and leader of the Gucci Gang, an organised crime group active in the drugs market from its base in Finglas, during a recent High Court case.
- In mitigation, the court considered the negative impact on Ward's mental health after spending his first seven months in prison on a 23-hour lockup with his brother, and a prison governor's report stated his behaviour had improved recently.
- Ward undertook not to associate with six individuals whose names were handed into the court.
39 statements extracted from the articles
- whatVideo footage showed Ward encouraging his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll to take and discharge the firearm (dublinlive.ie)
- whatIn June 2022, gardai responded to reports that shots had been fired at a taxi on the Tolka Valley Road (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA video clip on the phone showed Ward pointing the AR-15 rifle towards the sky and firing (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA number of young people were present and watching (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWard handed the firearm to O'Driscoll, who fired three shots into the air (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard fired a semi-automatic rifle from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe firearm was powerful and capable of causing serious injury or death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardai found the weapon alongside a sizable cache of ammunition. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe video showed Ward pointing the AR-15 rifle towards the sky and firing, with a number of young people present and watching. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 1 January 2022 at an address in Finglas (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe firearm was a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponThe firearm used was a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA Mac-11 submachine gun was also found by gardaí investigating Ward. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found the weapon alongside a sizeable cache of ammunition (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí discovered the rifle alongside a military sub-machine gun during a search of a house in Finglas in February 2022 (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationA phone found in the taxi was later connected to O'Driscoll (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationVideo footage from a phone showed Ward encouraging his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll to take and discharge the firearm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardai discovered the rifle alongside a military sub-machine gun during a search of a house in Finglas in February 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardai found a phone in the taxi that was later connected to O'Driscoll. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeWard pleaded guilty to possessing the rifle in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference he did not have it for a lawful purpose (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeO'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeWard pleaded guilty to possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle on 1 January 2022 at an address in Finglas. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Greally said there is a certain unreality to the suggestion that Ward had only a fleeting involvement with the firearm (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe judge accepted there was a dearth of evidence of Ward's relationship to the firearm (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe sentencing took place at the Special Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Greally noted a 'certain unreality' to the suggestion that Ward had only a fleeting involvement with the firearm. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceGlen Ward was sentenced to five years and six months in prison (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Greally sentenced Ward to six years and three months but suspended the final nine months (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceWard must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after release or serve the suspended portion (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceWard was sentenced to six years and three months with the final nine months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGlen Ward was jailed for five years and six months. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after release or serve the suspended portion. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe negative impact on Ward's mental health after 23-hour lockup with his brother was considered in mitigation (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA prison governor's report states Ward's behaviour has improved recently (dublinlive.ie)
- otherWard undertook not to associate with six individuals (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Gucci Gang was very active in the drugs market from its base in Finglas. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn mitigation, the court considered the negative impact on Ward's mental health after spending his first seven months in prison on a 23-hour lockup with his brother. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA prison governor's report states that Ward's behaviour has improved recently. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWard undertook not to associate with six individuals whose names were handed into the court. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Apr2025Top garda says 'Mr Flashy' Glen Ward thought he was above the law
Sentencing of Glen Ward at the Special Criminal Court; includes details of the investigation, video evidence, and Judge Greally's remarks. Also references brother Eric O'Driscoll's earlier five-year sentence for the same firearm.
convicted, Glen Ward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen Wardconvicted, Eric O'Driscoll, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric O'Driscoll - 28 Apr2025Glen ‘Mr Flashy’ Ward jailed for firing semi-automatic rifle during house party in Finglas
Sentencing at the Special Criminal Court by Ms Justice Melanie Greally; Ward received 6 years 3 months with 9 months suspended; O'Driscoll previously jailed for 5 years; Ward identified as leader of 'The Gucci Gang' organised crime group based in Finglas.
convicted, Glen Ward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen Wardconvicted, Eric O'Driscoll, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric O'Driscoll - 28 Apr2025Glen Ward - criminal known as Mr Flashy - jailed for five and a half years
Reports the sentencing of Glen Ward at the Special Criminal Court, including video evidence of him firing the AR-15 and handing it to his brother, the judge's comments on the 'unreality' of his limited involvement, mitigation for 23-hour lockup, and the suspended portion of his sentence. Also notes O'Driscoll was previously jailed for five years.
convicted, Glen Ward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen Wardconvicted, Eric O'Driscoll, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric O'Driscoll