A court has heard how a Ballymun man caught with three handguns and 400 rounds of ammo didn't realise they were illegal.
Philip Hendrick's family home at Crannoge Close, Poppintree was searched in February 2010 after he was caught with some cocaine in Finglas.
On February 6th 2010, Mr. Hendrick was arrested after Gardai pulled over a taxi in Finglas as he was on his way to a party with friends.
Some cocaine was found on him and his home was searched.
During that search, three loaded handguns were found wrapped in a towel inside a bedroom wardrobe.
Boxes of ammo containing a total of 400 rounds were also found along with some flares.
Hendrick admitted buying the stash but said the guns were replicas and loaded with blanks.
He said he was shocked when a ballistics expert classified them as illegal firearms and denied any involvement in gangland crime.
The father of three said he bought them as toys and hadn't fired them in around a year.
His sentence hearing continues before DCCC.
