Chairman of Leitrim gun club undertakes to abstain from alcohol to try to get his gun licences back
The Sligo ChampionA chairman of a gun club in Leitrim has given an undertaking that he will abstain from alcohol in order for him to get his three gun licences again.
David Fox (51) of Halls, Gorvagh, Co. Leitrim applied to Sligo District Court to appeal Superintendent Denis Ellard’s decision to revoke his firearms certificates for a Browning bolt action rifle, a Beretta semi-automatic shotgun and a Sabatti double-barrel shotgun.
Garda Mark Tansey outlined to the court an incident last year which led to Mr Fox’s firearm certificates being revoked.
On April 28, 2025 at 2:30am, the Garda received a call for assistance from Garda Séan Murphy at Halls, Gorvagh.
Garda Tansey, accompanied by a trainee Garda saw that Garda Murphy was speaking to two occupants in a car, David and Andrea Fox at the end of the driveway. Garda Murphy was speaking to the two about a road traffic collision involving their son.
Mr Fox then exited the vehicle on the passenger side and went around to the back of the car. He started shouting at gardaí to “get the f**k off my property”. Mr Fox continued to be verbally abusive to gardaí and told them that they were “government debt collectors” and “good for nothing c**ts”.
Garda Tansey informed Mr Fox that he was being arrested to which he replied “it would take more than the three of ye to take me with ye”.
He then put up his hands, clenched his fists and squared up to the gardaí. Garda Tansey used his pepper sprayed and managed to handcuff Mr Fox. Mr Fox then had to be taken to the ground where he attempted to kick the gardaí.
Mr Fox was placed in the patrol car and conveyed to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station. Whilst en route, he continued to be aggressive and headbutted the window. Mr Fox also refused to give gardaí details when at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station.
At 6:45am, he was charged with three offences.
His case was heard at Carrick on Shannon District Court on April 21, where the matter was contested. Judge Éiteáin Cunningham fined Mr Fox €500 for obstructing a peace officer and took the other charges into consideration.
Garda Tansey described Mr Fox as being highly intoxicated and highly aggressive and that his eyes were glassy on the night in question. He added that Mr Fox never apologised to him.
Mr Keith O’Grady BL instructed by Cathal L Flynn and Co Solicitors appeared for Mr Fox. Mr O’Grady asked Garda Tansey if he remembered the reason why Mr Fox contested the case. Garda Tansey replied that Mr Fox thought that if he pleaded guilty to the charges, his firearms would be taken from him. Garda Tansey also confirmed that Mr Fox essentially convicted himself when he went into the witness box.
Superintendent Denis Ellard took to the witness box and told Judge Brendan O’Reilly that at the time of the incident he was the superintendent of the Leitrim Community Engagement programme.
Supt Ellard said that he met Mr Fox at Carrick-on- Shannon Garda Station a few days after the incident. He added that Mr Fox accepted that he was guilty in relation to the night in question and apologised to him for his behaviour.
Supt Ellard continued that the level of abuse Mr Fox shown was “totally unacceptable” given his age.
Supt Ellard said that Mr Fox had 10 previous convictions, including drunk in charge of a vehicle over 20 years ago which he was disqualified from driving for two years and was fined €300.
He explained that due to Mr Fox being highly intoxicated, seriously aggressive, and his relevant previous convictions, he revoked his three firearms certificates.
When questioned by Mr O’Grady, Supt Ellard confirmed that Mr Fox had held a gun licence for 35 years and that he was the chairman of Cloone Gun Club, and that he was employed locally to protect grouse on mountains.
He also confirmed that Mr Fox had never misused a firearm or do anything wrongful with one whilst having a firearm certificate.
Mr Fox, in evidence, apologised for his behaviour towards gardaí on the night in question.
He told the court that he started shooting with his father at a young age and got his first firearm certificate when he was 16. Mr Fox added that as chairman of Cloone gun club he taught teenagers how to hold guns safely.
Mr Fox said that he was involved in a pest control scheme on the mountains to get rid of vermin. He added that he had a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to manage the deer population.
When asked about his behaviour on the night in question, Mr Fox said that it was absolutely out of order.
Mr Fox explained that he contested the charges after meeting Supt Ellard at the Garda Station who told him that his guns would be taken off him if he pleaded guilty.
When asked by Supt Ellard how many drinks he had on April 25, 2025, Mr Fox replied that he had three hot whiskeys and that he was not a big drinker.
Supt Ellard put it to Mr Fox that he was very aggressive on the night in question. Mr Fox said that he was very agitated and that it was out of character for him.
As for headbutting the patrol car’s window, Mr Fox explained that he was trying to rub the pepper spray off him and that he was in severe discomfort.
When asked about his appearance in court in 2002 over a gun licence issue, Mr Fox said that it was a mix-up between gardaí and the number on his gun that did not match the number on the licence. He added that he got the benefit of the Probation Act on that occasion.
Judge O’Reilly asked Mr Fox what the young people he taught at Cloone Gun Club would have thought when they read his case in The Leitrim Observer.
He initially replied that he did not know, but added that as a gun licence holder he should show an example to the young people he taught.
Judge O’Reilly told Mr Fox that from the evidence heard, alcohol appeared to be an issue for him. Mr O’Grady asked his client if he was prepared to abstain from alcohol to which he replied that he did apologise and that he was very sorry.
Judge O’Reilly then rose for 10 minutes for Mr Fox to talk with his legal team.
After he returned, Judge O’Reilly told Mr Fox that it appeared that drinking and shooting were the two pillars of his life but that they did not mix.
Mr Fox confirmed that he was willing to abstain from alcohol in order for him to make a fresh application for three firearm certificates.
Judge O’Reilly warned Mr Fox that there was no room for lapses such as baptisms and wetting the baby’s head. He adjourned the case for mention till October 20.
Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.