Limerick man pleads guilty over shooting sparked by right-of-way dispute

AN ELDERLY man has pleaded guilty to charges relating to a shooting incident in County Limerick last summer during which his neighbour was injured.

When arraigned at Limerick Circuit Court, Ted O’Donoghue, aged 73, who has an address at Kilmoreen, Kildimo, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the shooting which happened at Ballycasey, Kildimo, on June 16, 2017.

The charges include assault causing harm and recklessly discharging a firearm. He also pleaded guilty to a single charge of animal cruelty.

Another man – John Hayes (65) – sustained pellet wounds after the defendant discharged a single shot from his legally-held shotgun.

While Mr Hayes required medical attention following the shooting, his dog was killed.

Previously, gardai stated the shooting was related to a  long-running dispute is over the use of a “right of way” to farm lands in Kildimo.

The firearm used by Mr O’Donoghue was recovered by gardai in his van in Barnakyle, Patrickswell, a number of hours after the shooting.

After Mr O’Donoghue entered his guilty plea, Anthony Sammon SC said the “right-of-way difficulty” had become a “domineering matter” in his client’s mind.

In the circumstances, he sought legal aid to facilitate the preparation of a psychological report ahead of the formal sentencing hearing. He also asked that Mr O’Donoghue be allowed to enter Kildimo twice a week to attend Mass and a local pub to ”maintain his social contact”.

Judge Tom O’Donnell agreed and the defendant was remanded on continuing bail until July 24, next.

He must not have any contact with Mr Hayes as a condition of his bail.