Man shot pal while ‘joking’ with loaded gun

A man who claims he accidentally killed his friend as they joked around with a loaded gun has told the victim’s family that he loved him “like a brother”.

Dean Short, aged 21, of Lally Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Paul McCarthy, aged 18, at Myra Close, Emmet Road, Inchicore, in Dublin on May 9, 2011.

Detective Sergeant Michael McNulty told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he was called to the scene shortly before 3pm and found Mr McCarthy lying on the floor with a single gunshot wound to the head.