Cork farmer fired shotgun 'to protect family and property' from three men

A 51-year-old man from North Cork was convicted on two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm after firing two shotgun rounds outside his home. He told the court he was trying to defend his mother, his son, and his house from three drunken men loitering outside. One of the men had previously been fostered by him. The incident followed an argument over text messages. The court heard that the men had been drinking heavily and went to the property intending to fight a household member. The accused searched for them after contacting Gardaí and believed they were climbing a back gate to access the property. He then retrieved an old shotgun from inside the house and confronted them.

"51-year-old John Bradley, with an address at Ballinkill West, Newtownshandrum, faced a special sitting of Mallow District Court in a hearing which lasted for almost two hours, in which evidence was given about the circumstances leading to the event, in which he fired two shotgun rounds in an attempt to scare the group, following an argument over text messages."

"The court heard that Jake Keniry Mason, whom Mr Bradley had previously fostered, had led a group of three men following a night of heavy drinking at a local pub to the house, intending to fight another member of the household, but when Mr Bradley was tipped off to the arrival, he went out searching for the men."

"Having rang Charleville Garda Station on several occasions, the court heard that Mr Bradley found the three men in a ditch near a rear entrance of his property, and he believed that they were climbing a back gate in order to access the property."

"He returned to the house and grabbed an old shotgun which had originally belonged to his father out of a press in the house, and returned out to find the men."

Read at Irish Independent