Kildare man convicted of shooting neighbour

A Kildare man who shot his neighbour in the stomach and who was also shot himself in the ensuing struggle has been convicted by a jury.

The man shot his victim after ambushing him as he arrived home from work. A week earlier he had complained to gardaí that the victim had broken every window in his house and said that he would “deal with it” himself.

Both men were seriously injured in the incident and the victim had to have two and a half feet of his lower bowel removed.

Michael Hogan (aged 49) with an address at Coney Meadows, Coneyborough, Athy, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm and assault causing harm to Mr Derek Palmer and possession of a double-barrel shotgun at Corduff Place, Blanchardstown on September 13, 2008.

The jury took under two hours to reach a guity verdict on the counts of assault causing serious harm and possession of a shotgun. No verdict was returned on the alternative count of assault causing harm. Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury and remanded Hogan in custody until sentencing in June.

He also ordered a victim impact report be prepared as well as a probation report on Hogan with a focus on his alcohol abuse.