No jail for vulnerable man who shot himself in face but claimed men in balaclavas did it

Gardaí found a handgun he had purchased with Bitcoin in his room as well as over €16,000 of heroin and cocaine

When gardaí were called to the defendant's home, he told them he had been shot by three young men wearing balaclavas. His mother, however told gardaí she believed he had shot himself. File photo

A man who told gardaí he had been shot by men wearing balaclavas when he had in fact shot himself in the face has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

When gardaí were called to the home of Darren Nolan (28), he told them he had been shot by three young men wearing balaclavas. His mother, however told gardaí she believed he had shot himself.