Garda feared for life and fired shot after "hit team" member drove at him

A garda discharged his firearm at the Special Criminal Court after fearing for his life and that of a man he was restraining when a jeep was driven towards them at high speed. Owen Cummins, aged 41, of St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer on 6 September 2017 at Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8. The court heard that following intelligence of an active threat in Ballyfermot, gardaí located a white van near Raheen Park. When the vehicle failed to stop and evaded pursuit, two occupants abandoned it and ran to a parked Hyundai Tucson jeep. As Garda Stephen Gillespie restrained the passenger on the ground, Cummins drove the jeep directly towards them. The garda discharged a shot; the vehicle swerved and struck a parked Volkswagen Passat instead. Cummins has 68 previous convictions. Sentencing is scheduled for 3 March.