Four years for shooting colleague in buttocks

A man who shot a colleague in the buttock at a recycling firm has been sentenced to seven years in jail, with the final three suspended.

Anton Zefaj, aged 34, shot at mechanic Stanislaw Bognal six times following an argument over the maintenance of a truck.

Mr Bognal has been left in fear of his life and paranoid as a result of the shooting.

Zefaj, of Hazelwood Crescent, Clondalkin, was found guilty after a trial of possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances, and assault causing harm to Mr Bognal at National Recycling in Clondalkin, Dublin, on August 7, 2012.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Desmond Hogan said Zefaj seemed to have had “a very short fuse”.

He noted that Zefaj had also lost his temper in custody and damaged a television, but has since been described by the governor of Clover Hill Prison as a “model prisoner”.

Judge Hogan directed that €4,000 in compensation offered by Zefaj be handed over to the victim.

The court heard that Zefaj, originally from Albania, had been living, working, and paying taxes in Ireland for 17 years under the false name of Roc Tirpin.

However, he regularised his affairs when he married his partner last year.

Det Garda Tomas Doyle told Colm O’Briain BL, prosecuting, that both Zefaj and Mr Bognal, from Poland, were employed at National Recycling.

Zefaj complained to Mr Bognal about the brakes on his truck, and Mr Bognal said if he drove slowly the brakes would work.

Zefaj became aggressive. Another worker intervened and Zefaj left the workshop. He returned with a handgun and fired at Mr Bognal. Five shots missed but one hit him in the buttock.

Mr Bognal was brought to James Connolly Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Zefaj was located a short time later at a friend’s house where he denied shooting Mr Bognal, suggesting Mr Bognal had shot himself.

In a victim impact report, Mr Bognal said he has not had a full night’s sleep since the shooting.

“I find it hard to get motivated and find it very difficult to trust anyone,” he said. “Even if I see someone coming towards me, I get paranoid and my wife wants me to stay at home as she fears it will happen again.”

Judge Hogan ordered Zefaj to be of good behaviour for three years on his release from jail.