A Co Clare man who injured his then girlfriend with a shotgun blast during a row has since married her and they have had twins, a court heard yesterday.
At Ennis Circuit Court, John Paul Myles (26) Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, received a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to producing a double-barrelled shotgun capable of inflicting serious injury as to unlawfully intimidate another person at Cappa Lodge, on November 1st, 2003.
In evidence, Sgt Con Ryan said that Mr Myles and his then girl-friend, now wife Cora Maxwell, had a row at their home on the night of October 31st -November 1st 2003 after a night out with friends at a local pub. He said Mr Myles had a shotgun and during the "tooing and froing" with Ms Maxwell in an upstairs room of their home, the weapon was discharged.
Ms Maxwell was removed from the scene by ambulance with an abdomen injury. During the hearing yesterday Ms Maxwell sat with Mr Myles in the body of the court.
Sgt Ryan said that the "kidney" part of the weapon was not attached and Mr Myles believed that the weapon could not fire if this was not attached, while Mr Myles had no recollection of taking off the safety catch.
Counsel for Mr Myles, Michael Collins BL, said what happened was an accident and completely out of character for Mr Myles.
Describing the two as happily married, Mr Collins said: "With the 'kidney' part of the shotgun not attached, Mr Myles thought that the gun was rendered inoperable and he thought that he had disarmed the weapon."
Sgt Ryan said that the accused was very co-operative and that the two married in July 2005 and have since had twins together. Sgt Ryan said that the two have been together for the past 13 years and already have two children aged nine and seven.
Sgt Ryan said that Mr Myles has no previous convictions, is a good father and good provider and has the backing of all family members. Sgt Ryan said that the Mid-Western Health Board was notified after the incident and they were happy that there was no threat to the children.