Man recalls being shot on his way to a party

LIMERICK man recalled being blasted by a sawn-off shotgun as he walked to a late night house party with a friend who was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Ian Brennan, 21, of Westbury, Corbally, told Limerick Circuit Court: “I thought I was going to die. I thought it was all over and I could feel the blood coming out of me. I was just hoping to God I would come through it.”

Liam “Baby” Kelly, 21, of Distillery Avenue, Thomondgate, pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at St Mary’s Park on September 23, 2007.

Mr Brennan said he was 110% certain that he clearly saw “Baby” Kelly fire at him. Asked in cross-examination why a number of his friends said the gunman was covered up with disguises, he said: “They obviously don’t want to get involved and want to look out for their own safety.”

Mr Brennan agreed that when the shooting occurred — as he was on his way to the house party at the home of Philip Collopy — he was aware that Mr Collopy was wearing a bulletproof vest, adding: “Sure a lot of people are wearing vests the way things are going these days.”

He told a jury of seven men and five women that he had gone to Dick Devane’s pub in Nicholas Street on the night of September 22, 2007, and was with Mr Collopy, Brian Scanlon and others.

While there, Kelly came in and accused him of going out with his girlfriend behind his back.

Mr Brennan told the accused he was seeing the girl and was not the only one.

Kelly then went up to the girl, who was also in the bar, and slapped her around and then proceeded to throw a punch at him.

There was a scuffle and Kelly, on being asked to leave by a barman, told him that he would fix him and made threats.

Some time after midnight, Mr Brennan said he went with Philip Collopy and others towards Mr Collopy’s house. When they were at St Munchin’s Street in St Mary’s Park, a car stopped and he saw Kelly get out with a sawn-off shotgun.

Despite his pleas to Kelly not to shoot, two shots were fired. He was shot first in the back and, on falling and turning, he was shot a second time in the stomach.

When the second shot was fired, Kelly was only two or three feet away. He was in no doubt that Kelly was the gunman.

In cross-examination, Brendan Nix BL, for the defence, put it to Mr Brennan that Mr Collopy and others who were with him when the shooting happened made statements that the gunman was covered up and had a hoodie.

Mr Brennan said they were wrong about the gunman being covered up.

Det Gda Gerry Cleary gave evidence of speaking to Mr Brennan at the scene before an ambulance came.

The wounded man told him that Kelly was the person who shot him. A short time later, Det Gda Cleary said he arrested Kelly in a house in St Mary’s Park.

He recovered a wet tracksuit top and bottom from a washing machine which was on at the time.

The trial before Judge Sean O Donobhain continues.