Man wanted gun ‘put to his head’ after hearing claims

A LIMERICK man accused of threatening to kill his former business partner’s father and sister told gardaí he wished someone would put a gun to his head after learning of the allegation against him.

Michael Bridgeman, aged 51, of Glenview, Ballyneety, Co Limerick, has denied making a threat to Mark Heffernan, 28, to kill or cause serious harm to his father Mark Heffernan Snr, 47, at John Carew Park on a date unknown between September 1, 2008 and October 25, 2008.

Bridgeman has also denied demanding money with menaces from Mark Heffernan Jnr on a date unknown between September 1 and October 25, 2008 at the same address.

In one of several interviews with gardaí, Bridgeman said that he was in a “state of shock” after learning of the allegation against him and said he wished “someone would hold a gun to my head and pull the trigger”.

Bridgeman admitted arguing with Mr Heffernan outside his home in a “fiery” exchange over money but denied that he made a threat against the life of Mark Heffernan Snr or his daughter.

Detective Garda David Baynham agreed with Paul McDermott SC, prosecuting, that Bridgeman said if he wanted to shoot Mr Heffernan “it would have happened a long time ago” and said he would sooner harm himself then see harm done to anyone else.

He agreed that Bridgeman said he was initially approached by Mr Heffernan to invest in a nightclub venture in Newcastle West and said that he “jumped in with both feet” because he believed other Limerick hospitality professionals were involved.

Det Gda Baynham agreed that Bridgeman said he was eager to become involved in the nightclub because he had fallen in love with the lifestyle of “the girls and the boom-boom”, and that he personally lost as much as €189,000 after the enterprise folded in October 2008.

Mr Heffernan alleges that on one occasion Bridgeman called to his home in John Carew Park and told him he “could have had” Mr Heffernan’s father shot and his sister “done”.

The trial will resume on Tuesday in front of judge Mr Justice Paul Butler.