National: Serial offender who fired shots at another man asks court to give him a chance

A SERIAL offender who was originally charged with attempted murder on the day his daughter was born but pleaded guilty to a lesser firearms offence has pledged "never" to come before the courts again if "given a chance".

William Duffy, aged 40, with an address at Park Green, Coulter Place, Dundalk, County Louth, pleaded guilty, last July, to discharging a firearm being reckless as to whether any person would be injured at around 11pm on May 28, 2019, at Marian Park in Dundalk.

Four hours before the incident, the court heard, Duffy was seen on CCTV leaving the hospital in Dundalk before eventually arriving at Marian Park. 

At Duffy's sentence hearing this Monday, 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 and began to walk into Marian Park on his way home.

Mr Clarke told the Central Criminal Court that when Mr Shields was making his way into the park he recognised a man he knew in a black Audi parked nearby.

The Audi passed him and turned into a cul-de-sac at Marian Park, where it stopped sideways to Mr Shields and the passenger door opened, said Mr Clarke. 

Counsel said that Duffy got out of the car and, dressed in dark clothing, positioned himself "six or seven feet away" from Mr Shields.

Mr Clarke said Mr Shields and Duffy knew each other for the four or five years since Duffy had returned to Ireland from England and were also familiar with each other through martial arts.

Counsel said Duffy then pulled up his hood, put a scarf over his face and pulled something from his waistband at which Mr Shields "took off, running".

Mr Shields heard two shots and ran to hide in nearby bushes from where he called 999, whispering to the operator that he could hear footsteps.

Detective Garda Liam Gallagher told Mr Clarke that he found Mr Shields still in the bushes after the Audi left the scene.

He said a search of Duffy's home was carried out and that the accused's DNA matched DNA that was found on shell casings in the park.

When interviewed, Duffy said he "hadn't a clue" how his DNA was on the shell casings and that there were "millions of bullets out there". Duffy denied shooting at anyone and accused the gardaí of trying to "stitch him up", said Mr Clarke.

In an interview, Duffy told gardaí that he had left the hospital in Dundalk at 7pm - four hours before the shooting - and was at home that night. He also claimed that he may have touched the casings at a house party.

Detective Garda Gallagher said Duffy has 42 previous convictions, with 30 of those committed outside the jurisdiction. The detective said the majority of the offending related to road traffic incidents but that Duffy had a theft conviction, a hit-and-run conviction, one affray conviction, two for threatening behaviour and three for burglary.

Dominic McGinn SC, for Duffy, said his client had been re-arrested one year and nine months after the discharge of the firearm when the DNA report was completed.

He said that Duffy had a "long history" of substance abuse but had been an "accomplished boxer" in his youth.

Mr Clarke read a victim impact statement, which told how the incident "messed up" Mr Shields' life, that he had tried to take his own life six times, that he could not sleep and that he suffered from depression.

Mr McGinn said that Duffy's actions had a "profound and devastating" effect on Mr Shields, which his client acknowledged. He asked the court to noted that his client expressed his remorse over the incident and that he had "troubled" experiences as a child.

Mr McGinn said that "not a huge proportion" of Duffy's "litany" of previous offences had been for violent crime. 

Counsel said Duffy was "ashamed and disgusted with himself for his involvement" and had "genuine remorse, insight and acceptance" regarding his wrongdoing. 

Mr McGinn said his client, who had been coaching children in boxing, had also made a "commitment to address his addiction issues" and had the offer of work in the UK upon his release.

Duffy was allowed to briefly address Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and said: "If given a chance I will never come before you again. I have never had a chance to address my drug issues."

Ms Justice Biggs then adjourned the matter, for sentence, to November 13 - remanding Duffy in custody.