NORTH Albury man Martin John McDonough was angry as he left a video link room at Junee jail yesterday after being refused bail on firearms and drugs charges.
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Solicitor Andrea MacDonald made a bail application in Albury Local Court on behalf of McDonough, who first appeared in court on August 29 after his arrest following a raid at his North Albury home.
He faces 38 charges relating to guns and drugs, including the manufacture of a prohibited weapon.
Ms MacDonald said McDonough, 39, has lived in the same house for seven years and a woman who has known him for 13 years was prepared to go surety for him.
Ms MacDonald said he needed to be free with a worker’s compensation case pending after he suffered serious injuries.
But Director of Public Prosecutions representative Andrew Hanshaw opposed bail saying McDonough was put on a six-month suspended sentence in Victoria on February 27 apart from being on a bond in NSW.
“These are very serious firearms offences,” Mr Hanshaw said.
He said McDonough had taken responsibility for the 12 guns found by police apart from a double barrel shotgun.
Mr Hanshaw said there was a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 10 years, on the charge of possessing more than three unregistered firearms with one a prohibited pistol.
Police were involved in a raid on McDonough’s home in Stephen Street about 8.45am on August 28.
When rejecting bail, magistrate Tony Murray said: “In my view, it is a very strong prosecution case.”
Mr Murray said a custodial penalty was almost inevitable for McDonough if convicted.
“There are just too many firearms offences over a period of time,” Mr Murray said.
A police brief of evidence has to be prepared by October 20 and the charges are in court for mention seven days later.
