Man caught with recalibrated gun and ammunition in sports bag jailed

A man caught with a gun and bullets having earlier been involved in a drive-by shooting has been jailed for almost seven years.

Steven McGarry was stopped by police driving an Audi Q5 near Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium in January this year.

The 37-year-old’s two-bedroom home in Paisley was then searched by police.

Officers went on to uncover the weapon and 15 rounds of ammunition hidden inside an Under Armour sports bag in a cupboard.

The firearm was found to be a Slovakian-made Grand Power pistol initially designed to discharged “blanks” such as flares.

But, it had been converted at one stage to allow it to fire potentially deadly 9mm bullets.

McGarry was sentenced to six years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow having pleaded guilty to a string of firearms charges last month.

The hearing was told a “desperate” McGarry returned to crime on being freed from jail after a planned business venture collapsed.

In 2021, he was locked up for 44 months for his role as getaway driver in a shooting at a house in Stepps.

McGarry was caught for that crime after the stolen vehicle – also an Audi – was found parked outside a flat he had been living at.

Regarding the latest offence, Prosecutor Chris McKenna told how McGarry initially claimed he lived in Govan when stopped in the city’s Edmiston Drive on January 17.

However, it emerged he instead stayed in Paisley and had keys for the property on him.

Forensic checks were carried out on the firearm after it was found.

Mr McKenna said: “DNA attributable to McGarry was found on multiple parts of the handgun.

“This included the grip, trigger, a magazine release catch, the hammer, sights, release catch and the internal surface of the frame.”

The advocate depute added the gun was “in working order” in both full and semi-automatic firing modes.

McGarry pleaded guilty to six charges under the Firearms Act including possessing the pistol and bullets.

Tony Lenehan KC, defending, said McGarry had “high hopes” for “better things” when he got out of jail.

But, money issues quashed his plans to start up his own company.

The advocate said McGarry then took “a step backwards rather than forwards” by taking possession of the gun for cash.

Mr Lenehan said: “He retains an ambition to have a pro-social life, but makes things harder for himself when he makes a foolish decision.”

Sentencing, Lady Hood said McGarry had stated in a pre-sentencing report he had “borrowed” cash for his business venture which was then confiscated.

The judge: “You said that you were desperate and held the firearm and ammunition for money.”

Moira Orr, head of major crime at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was an important recovery of a weapon that had the potential to cause significant harm.

“This weapon has now been taken out of commission and Steven McGarry will spend time in prison as a consequence of his crimes.

“This case underlines our commitment to continue working with the police and other agencies to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.”