Courts / Louth / Report

Jail for serial offender who inflicted 'abject terror' in firing shotgun

Date
2023-11-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in July to discharging a firearm recklessly at 11pm on 28 May 2019 in Marian Park, Dundalk, where he fired twice at Keith Shields, who was walking home. Duffy was seen on CCTV leaving a hospital four hours earlier and later arriving at the park. The Central Criminal Court judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, sentenced Duffy to three years and six months' imprisonment, with nine months suspended, for causing "abject terror" to Mr Shields. The judge noted Duffy's 42 prior convictions, including affray, burglary and assault, and his history of substance abuse, but also his remorse, boxing coaching and positive prison governor's report. The sentence was based on a pre‑mitigation term of four years and eight months, reduced by a 25% mitigating discount. The attempted murder charge was withdrawn by the State.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for serial offender who inflicted 'abject terror' in firing shotgun. Charges or matters: the reckless discharge of a weapon towards Keith Shields, who left a house in the area at around 11pm on the night before walking through Marian Park on his way home. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 28, 2019 Incident
2023-11-13 Publication

Case subjects

William Duffy

Defendant

Charges: the reckless discharge of a weapon towards Keith Shields, who left a house in the area at around 11pm on the night before walking through Marian Park on his way home (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At Duffy's sentence hearing, Seamus Clarke SC, prosecuting, said Duffy had pleaded guilty to the reckless discharge of a weapon towards Keith Shields, who left a house in the area at around 11pm on the night before walking through Marian Park on his way home. At the Central Criminal Court today, Ms Justice Biggs jailed Duffy for three years and six months with the final nine months suspended for what she described as causing "abject terror" to Mr Shields.