Courts / Offaly / Report

'Horrifying' picture of children taking cover at halting site as shots fired

Date
2021-03-09

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tullamore

County
Offaly

Summary

In a 2021 case, Simon Quilligan, aged 38, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended after a court hearing in the Central Criminal Court. The sentence followed a trial where Quilligan was found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, making threats to kill or cause serious harm to two individuals, and causing criminal damage by breaking a caravan window. The offence occurred at a halting site in Tullamore, Co Offaly, where Quilligan discharged a firearm at a group that included children aged ten months to six years. He had threatened the occupants, saying he would kill them all and blow their brains out. The judge noted the presence of children taking cover under a caravan and the terror inflicted on the families present. Quilligan had previously been convicted of 38 offences in Ireland and four in other jurisdictions, including burglary and illegal weapon transport. Simon Quilligan was acquitted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Horrifying' picture of children taking cover at halting site as shots fired. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted

When:

May 5, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
December 11, 2019 Incident
February 17 Incident
May 18, 2018 Incident
2021-03-09 Publication

Why: The witness also agreed that the people present at the site knew Quilligan because they are related to him through marriage or blood. CNI source report

Case subjects

Simon Quilligan

Defendant

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; Mr Justice MacGrath sentenced Quilligan to eight years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. He was also sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the two counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm and six months for criminal damage.