Pair who fired shots into house sentenced to 10 years

Two men who fired bullets into a house to ‘intimidate, harass and terrify a family’ have been sentenced to 10 years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Jason McLoughlin of Croftwood Park in Ballyfermot and Sean McDermott of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot both pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a double barrel shotgun at Davitt Road, Inchicore on January 27, 2011.

They also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of a house at Croftworth Grove, Ballyfermot.

Garda Christopher O’Sullivan told prosecuting counsel, Colm O’Briain BL, the two men arrived at the house on a motorbike.

The house owner saw the men walk up the drive way carrying a bag before they took out the shotgun. The house owner told the rest of his family to go to the back of the house, fearing shots would be fired.

McDermott produced the shotgun and fired three rounds at the sitting room window, a bedroom window and the front door.

Gardaí were called and the men fled the scene on the motorbike. Gardaí pursued the men and the motorbike crashed on Davitt Road in Inchicore.

McDermott and McLoughlin were injured in the crash and hospitalised for several days before they were arrested.

Sean Gillane SC, defending McDermott, said the 27-year-old, who has 77 previous convictions, is an abuser of alcohol and drugs and has spent most of his 20s in custody.

“He is ashamed of his involvement in this crime and the fact that no-one was hurt is a matter of relevance and good fortune,” said Mr Gillane.

Remy Farrell SC, defending McLoughlin, said the 33-year-old, who has 62 previous convictions committed his first crime at the age of 14.

Judge Martin Nolan said the purpose of discharging the three rounds into the house is not clear.

“The only purpose can be to intimidate, harass and to terrify and they did it with malice,” he said before suspending the last three years of the sentence.