I'd leave it as it sounds like the licence is definitely coming. The solicitors should always be a last resort. Better to go along with any quirky nonsense as long as it's working out in your favour.

I doubt it's personal. I've had a few strange twists and issues over the years with licence applications. Usually it's just because of some new super or FO with a poor understanding of the law or a case of an over active imagination.

I would hazard a guess that "Warez" [and welcome to the forums here too BTW!] hails from a part of the EU that was formerly the Warsaw Pact where handling Markovs and AKs and as a special treat a dummy RPG7 was part and parcel of your primary and secondary school after hours education to prepare you for national service.

As for the questioning of your spouse,etc. That is understandable, but out of line. To the point, it could be considered a worthy complaint to the Garda Ombudsman. Well fine if said Sgt is asking all and sundry in his district the same question of wives and husbands,but singling out one specific person because of possible nationality, could be considered racist these days. However,as previous posters have said if he is RECOMMENDING an issuance to the Super and is getting it done pronto. I'd let it slide too,but maybe ask next time you are dropping in the form for the rifle of "Shall I bring the wife along so you can question her?" will be a good enough hint to him that it's noted and not forgotten.

Pay attention. The OP is from an eastern country

Think you caught him on the hop by calling into the station unannounced and he hadn’t processed your application and that’s why he questioned your partner to let on he was doing something, had similar with rifle licence number months went by and nothing and was passing local station and called into Garda I knew just said to him about the licence, he said look in to it and two days later two boys arrived to check gun safe and lots of questions and stated a back log with paperwork and sorted within the week.

I'm so used to Eastern European English at work I didn't pick up on the way they used their words. The use of ROI threw me. From my experience that's used by people from NI/Britain. Yes it's used for the football team but in terms of a person living here it'd normally be twenty years in Ireland.

If license arrives I would leave it. You gain nothing an run the risk of bringing more attention to yourself in future applications or if need help from said Garda for other issues.

I always have my contacts called even during renewal. Personally I am happy to see they are being careful as to whom they are dealing with. Have had house inspected and happily take calls to chat about my reasoning for another fire arm. When I start going on about quality of wood work and history behind a particular gun I am getting they usually get fed up and let me go.

But we are NOT in England. Or the USA or in Europe on this topic. We have specific laws and conditions that both we and AGS must abide by when licensing firearms. Going and asking our spouses, next of kin etc is not part of our legislation on this . While it is of good intent,it is not protocol or advisable to allow an infringement on protocol.

What next? Do we allow aGS to demand our social media accounts? So they can scan our social media for "mean Tweets" like in the UK and revoke our licenses for not recognising 99 other genders? Has already happened in the UK. https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/report-uk-gun-owner-loses-licenses-over-social-media-presence

Or like in Germany where even having an off-colour view,but perfectly legal as you can carry less, and leathl weaponary over there with correct paperwork was enough to deprive a gunowner worth of 50K worth of property in Schweinfurt https://katjatriebel.com/2016/05/21/wbk-weg-wegen-facebook-posts/

Or having certain political belifs like being a Reich burger or having "extreme rightwing views",[and thats not necessarily being a Seig Heiling,Mein Kampf reading with a pic of Adolf over the mantlepiece Neo Nazi these days] get you having to be cleared by German secret services? We already have seen this happen with NPWS trying it on with their minimum 100 acres,or deciding that in some cases .243 was the minimum acceptable calibre. Both dropped pretty quickly when it came to the rubber meeting the road.

If they want this power, go and demand and get it in legislation as a wise judge commented in the DC about our firearms legislation in the semi-automatic rifles and pistol appeals,not just assume and demand it because you are "the law".

heres the crux in all this,the decision maker is the local super NOT the sergeant in charge,

whats next, a dna and a stool sample because you looked too pale to him when you walked in the door and it looks like you mighnt be fit enough to hold a firearms certificate,and all you were doing was enquiring about the progression of some paperwork,

Generally guards have a fair idea of community and who is "intemperate" or not, much of that local knowledge is changing.

I would have no problem with guards asking my partner if they are happy for me to have a firearm in the home.

Good well done. Keep us updated

Hopefully it will be resolved amicably for the OP. Unfortunately sometimes court is necessary. Although ownership of a firearm is not a right, neither is it proper to deny someone a licence eithout good reason. This is a democracy after all and there should be fair and equitable treatment for every citizen. That is regardless of where they reside, what colour or creed they are, or the 'policies' of local paid public servants who unfortunately sometimes believe wrongly that they are the law rather than just enforcers of that law.

I think your lack of faith is misplaced. My opinion is based not only on first hand experience myself but also on how friends of mine got on in their appeal cases. I've seen no instances at all of any negative bias by the courts.

The issue is that not enough people take a stand when they need to with the local PTB. I'm not suggesting every situation requires a court case, far from it, but sadly sometimes it is the only solution if there is no attempt for some resolution locally.

In addition, now that it is possible to get costs refunded if one wins an appeal case, there is even more reason to go to court if there is no other option.

One thing for certain is that if you give in once then you have marked yourself as someone they can push around. As most sports shooters / hunters are in this for the long game, ofteny for life, that can mean years of grief and being dictated to on all things firearm related. Better, for sure, to foster a good relationship, but it takes both sides to do that of course.

Found a news report on it:

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/high-court-judge-in-warning-on-disturbing-gun-licence-practices/26813541.html

…… https://www.courts.ie/rules/costs-si-no-17-2014

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/high-court-challenge-to-gun-licence-refusal-is-settled-1.455035 ……

Food for thought in the context of taking on the AGS

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2024/0704/1458251-garda-corruption-joseph-doyle/

So basically they are telling you that your application has spent 7 months on your firearms officers/ firearms sgt's desk and they are only now passing it up the Decision maker's desk, despite the LAW stating that overall it should have been adjudicated in 3 months.

I am going to stop now.

Maybe you need a new solicitor, who at least knows the Firearms Act

Remind her too, that those decisions are two ranks at least above her and her pay grade.She is just a mouth and the decision on granting or not lies with her boss the superintendent.And its not up to what "They"want either.They are public servants of the people of Ireland,and if the people want to change the law on this . That's what we have politicians and a Dail for. Their job is to enforce the law as it stands not interpret or add on clauses and other hurdles it to suit their own likes or dislikes. Seems they need regular reminding of this fact in the courts and in these incidents.

Well done!