About this Application
You can make an application to appeal to the District Court if your gun licence issue or renewal has been refused by An Garda Síochána and you believe that the decision was unfair or incorrect.
An Garda Síochána may refuse your licence based on:
- Failure to demonstrate a "good reason" for needing the firearm for example, personal safety is not a valid reason.
- Concerns regarding public safety or peace.
- Inadequate security arrangements for storing the firearm.
- Concerns about the applicant's character, such as pending charges or previous convictions.
Who can help
You can contact your local Garda station for further information and guidance about the process here.
Before your court application
- You must send a formal notice letting An Garda Síochána know that you intend to make an appeal to the court.
- There is a specific form for this, often referred to as a Section 15(a) form.
- This notice should be sent at least seven days before you intend to make the application at the court office.
- You can deliver the notice by hand to An Garda Síochána or send it post. You should keep a copy of the notice for your records.
How to make your court application
You can download your application form Form 40.D01 Appeal of a Refusal of a Gun Licence or contact your localcourt office and they can send a application form to you by post. The person making the application it the claimant and the person you are making the application against is the respondent, the Chief Superintendent of an Garda Siochana.
You will need to include the following information to complete your application:
- District Court number and area. Please see our map, this can be found here.
- A record number which will be inserted by the court office,
- Enter the enactment which is the section of the legislation that is relevant to your application - Section 15(a) of the Firearms Act 1925 (as amended),
- Your full name and address,
- the respondent's full name and address,
- the date and time of court which the court office will give you,
- details of what you are asking the judge to do,
- reasons why your are appealing the decision,
- list of documents you intend to rely on or use in court, including the written refusal and attach copies,
- the address of the court office where you filed your application.
Stamp fee
You must pay the appropriate court fee for your application.The fee for this application is €25. This civil application fee can be paid at your local court office (or in Dublin, at the Stamping Office in the Áras Uí Dhálaigh building in the Four Courts complex). You can pay these fees by card or cash. The office will check your application, give it a record number, issue it, and return the form to you.
Serving your application
You must then send a copy of your application to the respondent - The Chief Super of an Garda Siochana. This is called serving the application Please see our serving and proof of service page for more information. The Respondent must be notified at least fourteen days prior to the court date by registered post. Your post office will give you a certificate of postage
Submitting your application
A copy of the stamped application with the declaration of service attached must be lodged in your local District Court office at least seven days prior to the court date.
The judge may make the following decisions
- Confirm the Garda decision so that orignal refusal stands,
- Allow the appeal, requiring the Gardaí to grant the gun licence,
- Allow the appeal with conditions attached,
- Dismiss your application,
- Adjourn your case for more information.
Preparing for court
Going to court can be a stressful experience. See our preparing for Civil Law court pages for more information on how to prepare.
You will be asked to give evidence in the Court room and you should be prepared to answer any questions the Judge may ask you.
What happens after court
See our After your hearing page for more information on what to expect after your court hearing.
