Detective who fired on suspect feared for his life, tiger kidnap trial hears

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a garda detective testified on the fifteenth day of trial that he discharged two shots at a suspect during an armed chase because he feared for his life. The officer said he believed he saw a firearm in the suspect's hand as the man turned towards him in a field near Malahide on September 25, 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning a postmistress and her daughter, along with an Italian student, at a property in Dublin. He also denies robbery at Bayside Post Office and threats to kill, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle. The detective told the court he identified the suspect after pursuing him on foot for approximately 500 metres. During cross-examination, the defence suggested the officer's description relied on information from other agencies and CCTV footage, a claim he rejected. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury remains ongoing.