Shooting accused claims he was victim

A LIMERICK man charged in connection with the shooting of his daughter’s boyfriend during a family row claimed he was the one who came under gun attack from members of the boyfriend’s family, Limerick Circuit Court has heard.

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

Michael Lynch, who was in a relationship with Kelly’s daughter Jessica, was shot and seriously wounded near the Kelly home after a row between Jessica and Mr Lynch’s mother, Mary.

Det Gda Mark Deasy yesterday said Kelly, after being arrested, claimed he had been attacked after members of the Lynch family tried to draw him out of his house.

Kelly told gardaí he had to duck when he came under fire and was in fear of his life when his house came under attack from “lunatics out of their heads”.

Kelly told gardaí that if they checked a CCTV camera near his home, identified in court as camera 22, he would walk free.

Brendan Nix SC, for Kelly, attempted to confirm this with Det Garda Deasy, who replied: “That is what he said.”

Sgt John Delaney, a garda expert on CCTV, confirmed a camera was located near Kelly’s home. However, the camera had not been functional since July 31, 2009.

Also in court yesterday, Det Gda Michael Murphy agreed that, in certain circumstances, a person may be entitled to kill another person in order to defend their property or themselves.