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'I'll kill you all; man, woman or child': conviction for having firearm at halting site upheld
Summary
Simon Quilligan, 40, was convicted in March 2021 of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he allegedly said "I'll kill you all; man, woman or child." He had previously been found not guilty of attempted murder and of intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm in a separate incident. Quilligan appealed the firearms conviction, arguing insufficient evidence and inconsistency with his acquittal on the discharge charge. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, stating ample evidence justified a jury decision and that the conviction was not inconsistent with the acquittal. Quilligan remains jailed, with release scheduled for 10 June 2024, and the Court of Appeal will set a date for his sentence appeal next week. The case involved additional convictions for threatening to kill or cause serious harm and for criminal damage, all of which were sentenced to run concurrently.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'I'll kill you all; man, woman or child': conviction for having firearm at halting site upheld. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- March 2021 Incident
- June 10, 2024 Incident
- December 2020 Incident
- May 5, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-06-15 Publication
Why: Quilligan's lawyer Padraig Dwyer SC told the three-judge Court of Appeal last April that the conviction for possessing a firearm should not have gone to the jury because there was "insufficient evidence". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Simon Quilligan, who was found not guilty of attempted murder arising from the same incident, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger life at the same location. Mr Justice MacGrath sentenced Quilligan to eight years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for possession of the firearm with intent to endanger life, to two years for the two counts of threat to kill or cause serious harm and to six months for the criminal damage, with all terms to run concurrently.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Blackberry Lane
- Athlone
- Arden Way
Topics
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