Cork man discharged shotgun after seeing cabling workers near his home

A 73-year-old man discharged a double-barrelled shotgun in Lissarda when he saw broadband cabling workmen gathered near his home and he shouted: “Leave now or I’ll shoot ye.”

Daniel Twomey of Dunmarklun, Lissarda, Co Cork, was given a two-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to discharging a double-barrelled shotgun in circumstances where he was reckless as to whether a person was injured or not at Dunmarklun, Lissarda.

Judge Helen Boyle said that even though it was fired into the air, she had no doubt that it would have been a frightening experience for the men who were starting a day’s work at 8.30am on December 7, 2022.

Garda Annmarie Kelleher said one of the workmen heard a loud bang like a shot being fired and then saw a man in his 70s shouting: “Leave now or I’ll shoot ye.”

“He felt pellets raining down on top of him and pellets also hit the roof of the van,” Garda Kelleher said.

Acknowledged

Brendan Kelly, prosecution barrister, acknowledged the accused had no previous convictions and had a licence for the firearm, which he surrendered after the incident.

As for the firing of the weapon, Mr Kelly said: “Pellets falling would be a consequence of firing into the air — they would come down like hailstones with no great consequence.

Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said the elderly man farms marginal land.

“He acted very rashly, but the discharging of the shotgun was aerial rather than directional,” Mr Boyle said, adding that it was discharged at the back of his home and that by the time Mr Twomey went around the front and shouted at the workmen, he did not have the shotgun in his hands.

Judg Boyle said: “In of gravity, there were workmen gathered in the vicinity of your house. You discharged a shotgun into the area and threatened them that if they did not leave you would shoot them.

“The evidence was that the shotgun was not discharged at them but into the air as a warning shot.

“With a shotgun licence comes responsibility and on this occasion you did not behave responsibly. I have no doubt it was a frightening experience for men starting their day’s work.

“I note you surrendered your firearm immediately. You got 73 years into your life without coming to garda attention and I think it is unlikely you will come to the attention of An Garda Síochána again.”