Daniel Goulding gets 18 years for attempted murder of two gardaí during siege at his home

The judge decided against a life sentence due to mitigating factors, including the fact that Goulding suffered from a mental illness

Daniel Goulding was arrested after a two-hour siege. File picture: Paddy Cummins/IrishPhotoDesk.ie

A 39-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for the attempted murder of two gardaí who were shot after he opened fire from a bedroom window at his home in West Dublin last year.

Sentencing Daniel Goulding at the Central Criminal Court on Friday to 20 years in prison with the final two years suspended, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said these offences were of the most serious kind and he had considered imposing a sentence of life in prison. However, he said to impose a life sentence would give little or no allowance to the mitigating factors of the case, including the fact that Goulding suffered from a mental illness.