The trial of a Kilrush man accused of the murder of Leslie Kenny last July has heard he had a double barrelled shotgun under his mattress because he was minding it for a relative.
It’s day four of the trial of 25 year old Brendan O’Sullivan who has pleaded Not Guilty to murdering his 27 year old neighbour, though he admitted shooting Leslie Kenny four times, telling gardaí he was trying protect his wife and children.
The accused insisted he never intended to use the gun, and was only trying to scare the deceased man off.
27 year old Leslie Kenny, died in Brendan O’Sullivan’s front garden on O’Gorman Street, Kilrush on July 29th, 2009, after being shot four times
O’Sullivan told gardaí he was protecting his family and was terrified about what Mr Kenny was going to do to his wife and daughters because of his "non stop" violent threats
However he admitted claims that Leslie Kenny had chased his wife and two year old daughter into the house were not true.
He said he ran upstairs when he saw Mr Kenny walk towards his house, got the shotgun he was minding for his cousin, loaded it and shot Mr Kenny twice when he appeared at his garden wall.
He admitted reloading the gun and shooting him in the knees, firing the final shot as Mr Kenny lay injured on the ground.
"All I could think of was my wife and kids….I was just trying to scare him off" he said – the trial continues.
