Farmer, 47, pursued gardaí with rifle

A 47-year-old isolated sheep farmer “in the throes of a mental breakdown” who pursued two Kenmare gardaí with a loaded rifle has been given a five-year suspended sentence.

John Joe Kissane, of Eirk, Muckross, Killarney, had earlier pleaded guilty to using a rifle with telescopic sight to threaten to kill or cause serious harm to Garda Denis O’Brien and Garda Seán O’Regan on January 16, 2015, at Eirk, Muckross.

The gardaí had initially called to Mr Kissane’s house after the station received a report of dangerous driving of a jeep and out of concern for Mr Kissane, who they knew was going through a bad patch, Det Chris Manton told Tom Rice, prosecuting.