Drunken man returned to pub with shot gun to shoot customer

ON LEAVING a Limerick pub after an argument, a drunken customer armed himself with a loaded sawn-off shot gun, put on a balaclava and returned to shoot the man he had rowed with.

When he burst into the pub with the gun, the man he wanted to shoot was seated with a five-year-old child on his lap, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

With the help of the child’s mother, the intended victim managed to overpower the gunman, Garret Fitzgerald.

In court yesterday, Fitzgerald, aged 32, of Claughaun Avenue, Garryowen, pleaded guilty to possession of a Remington automatic shotgun at Quilty’s bar in Thomond- gate and having four cartridges, three of which were in the gun magazine.

Sgt Ronan McDonagh said Fitzgerald had been out drinking in the Quilty bar on March 9 last.

Sgt McDonagh said when Fitzgerald approach- ed a group, one man told him to go away as he had drink taken.

Fitzgerald, known as “Piebald”, went away and returned to the Quilty bar at 8.30pm with a loaded gun and wearing a balaclava. There were about 30 customers in the bar at the time.

The man Fitzgerald intended to shoot — who State prosecutor John O’Sullivan said was the man who had earlier told him to go away — had a five-year-old child on his lap. The child’s mother was also present.

Sgt McDonagh said the target showed considerable courage by pushing the child out of the way and ran at Fitzgerald, grabbing the loaded gun.

After knocking Fitzgerald to the ground the intended target, assisted by the child’s mother, managed to get the gun.

The gunman was then restrained until gardaí arrived.

Sgt McDonagh said there were three live cartridges in the gun and the safety mechanism was off and in the firing position.

A fourth cartridge was found on the floor of the lounge and this could have fallen out of the gun or from Fitzgerald’s pocket.

The court heard Fitzgerald had previous convictions dating back to 1990. He served time in jail for entering a house with three others 10 years ago when a woman received a shot gun wound to her face.

Brendan Nix SC for the accused, said Fitzgerald went drinking after the month’s mind Mass of his partner’s father.

Mr Nix said: “He drank unwisely for a long period of time and had a stupid exchange of words. A stupid notion got into his head and he returned with a gun.”

He said media coverage meant the accused had a reputation that will live with him for the rest of his life.

Judge Carroll Moran adjourned sentencing to next Friday.