‘Neighbour from hell’ denied gun licence

A JUDGE yesterday described a former Department of Defence engineer as “a neighbour from hell” and denied his appeal against a garda refusal to grant him a firearms licence.

Jim Hosford Lynch, 55, from Baile Ard, Belvelly, Cobh, Co Cork, had sought licences for two shotguns, but had been refused by gardaí on several occasions since 1996.

Cobh District Court heard relations between Mr Lynch, and his in-laws, Mr and Ms McDonagh, had not been good and this seemed to be exacerbated by the fact they were neighbours and there were disputes over property boundaries.