The head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) was commenting after Shane Kinsella and Daniel Quinn Burke, both aged 22, were last week given a three-year sentence, fully suspended, at Naas Circuit Court for possession of firearms.

Their late friend and co-accused, Evan Fitzgerald, the main suspect behind the importation of high-powered weaponry, took his own life with a firearm outside a Carlow shopping centre last June. The 22-year-old was on bail at the time.

The three young Wicklow men were arrested in March 2024 after purchasing what Mr Fitzgerald thought were a military-grade rifle and handgun, and ammunition, he had ordered from the dark web.

Their arrest near Straffan, Co Kildare, was the culmination of a Garda surveillance and undercover operation involving the “controlled delivery” of decommissioned weapons to the suspects.

Fresh criticism over the weekend has pushed the issue back into the spotlight, including renewed calls for an inquiry.

Former justice minister, senator Michael McDowell and Labour TD Alan Kelly have led criticisms of the Garda handling of the investigation, claiming that the young men were naive, rather than dangerous, and should have been treated with care and diverted from the courts.

However, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan yesterday said he was “satisfied” with how gardaí handled it.

Asked about an inquiry, Mr O’Callaghan said he did not foresee one, adding: “This was a case where somebody was trying to illegally import weaponry into Ireland, and we cannot allow that. The gardaí are mandated to ensure that that doesn’t happen.”

Following the conclusion of last week’s cases, the Irish Examiner sought a comment from Det Chief Supt Boland.

A response from Garda headquarters, issued before the weekend, contained a statement from the senior Garda.

Det Chief Supt Boland said: “I commend the investigation team at Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau for the professional, empathic, and thorough investigation they conducted and take the opportunity to assure the public that An Garda Síochána shall continue to use all legislation and internationally recognised law enforcement tradecraft practices, to ensure that military-grade illegal weapons are not available in our society.

“Ireland remains a safe country with a significant decrease in organised-crime-related firearms deaths over the past decade. All attempts to purchase or possess lethal illegal weapons shall continue to be dealt with within the legal framework available to An Garda Síochána, in our efforts to keep people safe.”

Mr O’Callaghan said gardaí had to protect the public, adding: “There will be a very vigorous response in respect of people who do seek to import guns into Ireland. It’s important, on behalf of the public that we ensure that any such guns being imported illegally are seized.”