The sentencing hearing for four men charged in connection with an incident in which a shot was fired at members of the Garda Armed Support Unit as they attempted to search a house in Cork City, has been adjourned until next Tuesday, 21 February.
The court was told that two improvised shotguns, 20 rounds of live ammunition, slash hooks, pitch forks, a broken pool cue as well as 23 petrol bombs were among the arms found by gardaí.
James Keenan, 54, of Island View, Rochestown Road in Cork has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a member of the Garda Armed Support Unit, as well as possession of an improvised shotgun, ammunition and 23 petrol bombs.
Peter Keenan, 26, of Island View, Rochestown Road, Cork together with 25-year-old John Keenan of the Perrin Inn, Glengarriff in County Cork, and 19-year-old Michael James Keenan of 1 Island View, Rochestown Road, all pleaded guilty to charges relating to the incident including possession of a improvised shotgun and cartridges and 23 petrol bombs.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Danny Coholan told the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that acting on foot of confidential information, members of the Armed Support Unit went to 1 Island View, Rochestown Road, to search for arms as part of an ongoing investigation into a feud.
The situation was described as "high risk".
As they entered they house they shouted "armed gardaí", but as they attempted to go into the front room where James Keenan was with his wife, he discharged an improvised shotgun.
Such was the impact it slammed the door shut and one garda sustained minor injuries to her elbow from the impact of the discharged cartridge.
Mr Keenan claimed he thought it was the McDonaghs breaking into their house and that he had grabbed what he called "a yoke for frightening birds", which he thought had blank bullets in it and "it just went off".
Inspector Coholan said a television in the room was showing live CCTV footage of the front and back of the house and in 15 years he had never come across a cartridge that was not live.
Describing the improvised shotguns as "very crude, but very effective" he demonstrated to Judge Helen Boyle how the two pipes worked by "slamming the receiver" into "the barrel" and igniting the cartridge.
"It works every time", he said, adding "it is very effective" and the equivalent of a 12-gauge barrel shotgun.
The sentencing hearing was adjourned this evening until next Tuesday for further evidence and defence submissions.
