Courts / Dublin / Report

Gunman who shot himself in the leg while escaping is jailed for 10 years

Date
2016-12-21

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

James Walsh, aged 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a pistol with intent to endanger life after a shooting at the Church of the Transfiguration in Clondalkin on 26 March 2014. He shot himself in the leg while escaping the scene. The prosecution sought a nolle prosequi on a separate attempted murder charge against Michael Frazer, 37, who was shot twice and later sought sanctuary at a Garda station. On 1 December 2016, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Walsh to ten years' imprisonment, backdated to his initial custody on 5 December 2014. The judge highlighted strong circumstantial evidence, including a black jacket, a mobile phone, and a spent bullet found in Walsh's car, linking him to the shooting. Walsh had spent two years in custody awaiting trial and had prior convictions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of using a firearm to endanger life.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gunman who shot himself in the leg while escaping is jailed for 10 years. Charges or matters: possession of a pistol firearm with intent to endanger life at the Church of the Transfiguration, Bawnogue Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on March 26, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 26, 2014 Incident
December 1 Incident
December 5, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-12-21 Publication

Case subjects

James Walsh

Defendant

Charges: possession of a pistol firearm with intent to endanger life at the Church of the Transfiguration, Bawnogue Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on March 26, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Today at the Central Criminal Court Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a ten year sentence on Walsh and backdated it to when he went in to custody on December 5, 2014. Mr Justice McCarthy then sentenced Walsh to ten years in prison and backdated it from when he first went in to custody on December 5, 2014.