The trial of a Gort man at the centre of a 21 hour stand off with Gardaí in 2006 has heard evidence of how he was shot, because Gardaí believed their lives were in danger.
42 year old Anthony Burke has admitted his intent to damage property when he fired shots from his home during the Crowe Street Siege in October 2006, but has denied he intended to endanger lives, as his trial continues at Galway Circuit Court.
The trial of a Gort man at the centre of a 21 hour stand off with Gardaí in 2006 has heard evidence of how he was shot, because Gardaí believed their lives were in danger.
42 year old Anthony Burke has admitted his intent to damage property when he fired shots from his home during the Crowe Street Siege in October 2006, but has denied he intended to endanger lives, as his trial continues at Galway Circuit Court.
The jury has been hearing evidence from the Garda marksman who shot Mr Burke in the shoulder, and has not been publicly identified.
"Officer B" said he shot Anthony Burke in the shoulder using a high velocity sniper rifle when he saw him point a loaded double barrel shotgun at other Gardaí during the siege in Gort on October 9th, 2006, as he believed the lives of his colleagues in the Garda Emergency Response Unit were in "imminent danger".
Mr. Burke, who denies having two shotguns and 1400 shotgun cartridges in his possession with intent to endanger life at his home "crumpled" to the ground wounded and was assisted by other Gardaí.
Galway Detective Garda Seamus Burke said he saw Burke "keel over", while another officer rendered first aid after the shooting and removed a gun belt containing 21 cartridges from around the accused’s waist.
Detective Jeanette O’Neill of the Garda Ballistics section told the trial that 48 rounds of ammunition had been discharged by Anthony Burke in total, both inside and outside the house, and that five non lethal bean bag rounds and the sniper bullet had been discharged by the Gardaí.
The case continues
