Ipswich businessman Anthony Robert Halpin pleads guilty to possessing unregistered weapons

An Ipswich businessman with connections to an earthmoving company that was recently fined $40,000 for illegally crushing concrete has fronted court for illegal weapons possession.

New Chum resident Anthony Robert Halpin, 73, leaving Ipswich Court on October 18, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich businessman has faced court after he was busted with unregistered guns and improperly stored ammunition.

New Chum resident Anthony Robert Halpin, 73, is a consultant at local company Ipswich Earthmoving Equipment.

Ipswich Earthmoving Equipment was recently forced to pay a $40,000 fine after being caught illegally accepting, stockpiling and crushing concrete waste without an environmental authority between July and December 2020.

There is no suggestion Mr Haplin was involved in this separate matter.

Mr Halpin, 73, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on October 18, 2023, to unlawfully possessing a category R weapon (silencers), possessing four unregistered firearms, failing to keep weapons in securely stored facilities, possessing a magazine for a category B weapon, and failing to store ammunition in a secure area.

The court heard the offences occurred on January 16, 2022, in New Chum.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella noted the four unregistered firearms included a single barrel shotgun, a black rifle with unknown serial number, a Winchester rifle, and a bolt action rifle.

Police prosecutor Jessica Mills said there had been 12,000 rounds of ammunition found.

She said the prosecution were seeking forfeiture of that ammunition and the weapons.

But she noted there was a dispute in facts, as Mr Halpin claimed some of those rounds of ammunition were properly stored.

Despite Mr Halpin’s pleas of guilty, Mr Kinsella said the matter would not be able to proceed due to that dispute.

The matter was adjourned for a contested plea date on November 10.