Courts / Limerick / Report

Convicted killer gets five years for 'accidentally' shooting friend

Date
2023-04-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

Paul Coffey, a 46‑year‑old Limerick resident with 100 prior convictions, was sentenced to five years in prison for the reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm in circumstances suggesting it was not for a lawful purpose. He pleaded guilty in March to the offence of discharging a firearm recklessly and to possession of a firearm in circumstances implying unlawful possession. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of nine years, but reduced it to six years with the final 12 months suspended for three years in respect of the possession charge. The judge also sentenced Coffey to three years for the reckless discharge offence, to run concurrently. Coffey's sentence will be back‑dated to August 2021, when he first entered custody. He will be required to work with the probation services and keep the peace upon release.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Convicted killer gets five years for 'accidentally' shooting friend. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same occasion; manslaughter for the killing of Eddie Ryan Snr, who was shot dead while having a drink with his son in the Moose Bar in Limerick in 2000. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
June 11 2020 Incident
2023-04-18 Publication

Case subjects

Paul Coffey

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of a firearm in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same occasion; manslaughter for the killing of Eddie Ryan Snr, who was shot dead while having a drink with his son in the Moose Bar in Limerick in 2000 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At the Central Criminal Court today, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Coffey to six years in prison with the final 12 months suspended for three years in respect of the possession charge. The judge sentenced Coffey to three years for the reckless discharge offence, to run concurrently.