Courts / Dublin / Report
Man jailed for 10 years for shooting a bouncer and firing gun into a crowd of people in south Dublin pub
Summary
Desmond O'Toole, 46, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed at the Sallynoggin Inn in Sallynoggin on June 9, 2014. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a gun with intent to endanger life, assault causing harm, and possession of two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as incredibly serious, noting O'Toole's intent to harm and significant recklessness. Prosecution evidence indicated that after a dispute with a group of men, O'Toole returned to the pub, fired a shot into the crowd which missed, and subsequently fired again outside. The second bullet struck a security guard in the chest, causing severe injury requiring surgery and resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. O'Toole was arrested two days later and identified the location where he dumped the firearm, though it was never recovered. He made no admissions during ten interviews but later expressed remorse in a letter. Defence counsel highlighted that O'Toole is a carer for his blind mother. The court imposed a ten-year custodial sentence, reflecting the severity of the violence and the danger posed to the public.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for 10 years for shooting a bouncer and firing gun into a crowd of people in south Dublin pub. Charges or matters: possession of a gun with intent to endanger life, assault causing harm and possession of two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition at the Sallynoggin Inn, Sallynoggin on June 9, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 9, 2014 Incident
- 2015-03-12 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Defendant
Charges: possession of a gun with intent to endanger life, assault causing harm and possession of two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition at the Sallynoggin Inn, Sallynoggin on June 9, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
Firearms Pubs And Nightclubs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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