Court of Appeal reserves judgment on Simon Quilligan’s firearm conviction

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on Simon Quilligan’s appeal against his conviction for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The appeal hearing took place on 25 April 2023. The proceedings were reported on 25 April 2023.

Quilligan denied all seven charges. Following a Central Criminal Court trial in December 2020, a jury found him guilty of the firearm offence, two threats to kill or cause serious harm to Sandra O’Brien and Victoria Doherty, and damaging a window of Victoria Doherty’s caravan. The offences arose at Arden Way, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 5 May 2018.

The jury acquitted him of attempting to murder John McDonagh, intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm and creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm, and making a threat to Melissa Cowman.

In March 2021, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced Quilligan to eight years’ imprisonment for the firearm offence, with the final two years suspended. He imposed two years for the two threats and six months for criminal damage, all to run concurrently.

At the appeal, Padraig Dwyer SC argued that the evidence was insufficient and that the firearm verdict was inconsistent with the attempted murder and discharge acquittals. He said witnesses had not clearly seen or heard a firearm, and that there was no firearm residue evidence or silencer found at the site.

Mr Justice John Edwards said that whether the weapon was a firearm or an air gun, Quilligan had possessed it; he referred to threats and people being put in fear. Mr Dwyer said the defence did not accept that there was possession with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Edwards, presiding, reserved judgment.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.