A convicted IRA man who was a member of the so-called 'M60 gang' has been refused a gun licence by a court in the Republic.
Angelo Fusco, of Kilflynn in Co Kerry, was one of eight Provisional IRA prisoners who escaped from Crumlin Road jail in Belfast in 1981.
He was later granted a Royal Prerogative of Mercy along with three other members of the gang who shot their way out of the prison.
He appeared before Judge David Waters at Tralee District Court this week to appeal a refusal by a local Garda Superintendent to grant him a shotgun licence.
The judge dismissed the appeal, saying he had previous convictions in two jurisdictions "for very serious offences" including murder.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris appeared before the court as a character witness for the 61-year-old, saying: "Angelo Fusco is a very loyal, very honourable, honest person."
Mr Fusco was convicted in his absence in Belfast Crown Court in 1981 and received six 99-year sentences in relation to murder and attempted murder, possession of firearms with intent and membership of a proscribed organisation.
It followed the shooting on Belfast's Antrim Road the previous year of SAS Captain Herbert Richard Westmacott, the highest-ranking member of the elite army unit to be killed in Northern Ireland.
Just days before the court case, Mr Fusco escaped from Crumlin Road jail along with seven other IRA men.
Defence solicitor Padraig O'Connell this week referred to the Good Friday Agreement and said refusing the licence showed a lack of understanding about the peace process.
Mr Fusco said he is now a married grandfather-of-eight and had come to Tralee in 1981 while on the run and had worked as a painter and decorator.
He was arrested at a Garda checkpoint in Castleisland, Co Kerry in January 2000 and escorted to Northern Ireland to be handed over to the RUC on foot of an extradition warrant, but his handover was halted by a successful court appeal.
A later court was told he was no longer wanted for extradition, with then Secretary of State Peter Mandelson saying that "it is clearly anomalous to pursue the extradition of people who appear to qualify for early release under the Good Friday Agreement scheme".
Mr Fusco had wanted a licence for a single barrel shotgun because he kept poultry and lived in the country, saying he intended to join the local gun club "to pursue sport".
After a short recess to consider, Judge Waters dismissed the appeal.
