Courts / Dublin / Report
'Red mist' saw dad-of-five fire handgun at youths
Summary
Michael Hoolohan, 42, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after he fired a handgun at four youths in a Dublin housing estate on 16 April 2020. Gardaí were alerted by residents hearing the shots and later recovered spent shell casings and ammunition from the scene. CCTV footage linked a Toyota Hiace van, parked outside Hoolohan's home, to the shooting, and forensic analysis found firearms residue in the vehicle. Hoolohan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of a firearm. He had 11 prior convictions for road traffic and public order offences. The court accepted that he did not intend to harm the youths but had fired to frighten them, describing the incident as a disproportionate parental reaction. The judge noted Hoolohan's family responsibilities and community involvement but imposed the custodial sentence. The youths involved made no complaint. The case was presented as a moment of madness by the defence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Red mist' saw dad-of-five fire handgun at youths. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm and the reckless discharging of a firearm at Cedarbrook Walk, also in Ballyfermot on April 16, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 16, 2020 Incident
- 2021-05-06 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: possession of a firearm and the reckless discharging of a firearm at Cedarbrook Walk, also in Ballyfermot on April 16, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A father-of-five who fired shots in a residential area in broad daylight "when the red mist went down" has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Judge Nolan acknowledged that Hoolohan is "a good family man with responsibility" and has served his community but said he must impose a custodial sentence. "It seems that this was not a feud but rather a dispute that sometimes occurs in neighbourhoods where parents react in a disproportionate manner," Judge Nolan said before he jailed Hoolohan for three-and-a-half years.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- presented himself at the garda station
Topics
Public Order Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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