Alleged gunman’s son, 12, ‘took weapons from crime scene’

SHORTLY after a man was shot and wounded in Southill, the 12-year-son of the alleged gunman arrived at the home of a man he called “Grandad” with two hand guns, a stun gun and ammunition, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

Anthony Kelly, aged 50, of 121 O’Malley Park, Southill, has pleaded not guilty to possessing a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life at Southill on October 28, 2009.

The trial has heard how Kelly’s daughter, Jessie Kelly was in a relationship with Michael Lynch, who the accused is alleged to have shot and wounded after a row broke out between members of the families on the night of October 27/28, 2009.

Michael Lynch’s mother, Mary Lynch of 556 Castle Oaks. O’Malley Park, Southill, told the trial she saw Anthony Kelly produce a gun and shoot her son, Michael, after an incident near Kelly’s house.

In evidence yesterday, Tony McDonnell said he lived in O’Malley Park at the time of the shooting.

At around 8am on October 28, 2009, he heard knocking at the back door and went down stairs.

On opening the door, Daniel Kelly, aged 12, son of Anthony Kelly, was there.

Mr McDonnell said he had come to regard Daniel like a grandson as he spent so much time in his house.

He was holding a sock which had the shape of a gun inside it. The boy had two other socks and a small box.

Daniel Kelly said to him: “Grandad will you put them away”.

He said two of the socks contained guns, another sock had a stun gun and there was ammunition in the box.

He said Daniel Kelly had a sock with a gun in one hand and may have taken the other items from under his jacket.

Mr McDonnell said he put the items into a back shed and Daniel Kelly went out the back.

He bolted the door of the shed and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

On hearing people outside he became aware there had been a shooting. He went back to the shed and put all the items he got from Daniel Kelly into a plastic paint bucket. He then put them into a second shed he had at the back of his house. Mr McDonnell said he was wracked by what had occurred and he rang his son-in-law to know what to do. His son-in-law, Philip Scanlon, came to the house around noon and took the bucket away.

The trial continues.