Court jails teenager for shooting neighbour

A Dublin teenager has been jailed for seven years for killing his neighbour who confronted him for throwing eggs at his house.

Eighteen-year-old Conor Duffy of St Mary's Road, East Wall shot Aidan O'Kane in December 2008.

He was cleared by a jury of murder.

There was no visible reaction from Mr Duffy as he was jailed for seven years for shooting his neighbour in the chest down a laneway off Shelmalier Road.

The court heard the pair had been friendly but fell out when the mechanic accused Duffy of stealing his bicycle.

On the evening in question, the teenager and his friends threw eggs at his house and taunted the 50-year-old who grabbed a baton and put on a balaclava to confront the youths.

Mr Duffy said he thought Aidan O'Kane had a gun.

Just 16 at the time he had found a revolver in the undergrowth.

He said he had intended to shoot the father of one in the leg but the gun jumped.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the appropriate sentence was 12 years but he reduced it because of the accused's age, remorse and early plea of guilty.