A MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING his neighbour in Co Clare last year has been sentenced to life in prison.
Brendan O’Sullivan, 26, of O’Gorman Street, Kilrush, Co Clare, admitted shooting his neighbour Leslie Kenny, 27, at close range with a shotgun in July 2009.
O’Sullivan denied murder.
He said he had confronted Kenny over death threats he had made to his young daughters before getting his gun.
He also said Kenny had threatened to shoot down his door and pour petrol through his letter box.
According to the Clare People, neighbours said they say O’Sullivan standing in his garden and shouting at Kenny to “come down here and we’ll sort it out”. O’Sullivan said that his wife began screaming “he’s going to kill us” when Kenny, who had 82 convictions, walked towards the house.
O’Sullivan said he had only intended to scare Kenny off with warning shots and that he was terrified Kenny would carry out his threats.
O’Sullivan told gardaí he ran for his shotgun and shot Kenny in the chest when he appeared outside the house. He also shot him through the hip, and both knees.
He admitted firing a final shot while Kenny lay on the ground.
Clare FM reports that the jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning a unanimous verdict. The mandatory sentence for murder is life in prison.
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