A RETIRED army weapons instructor who drew a revolver at two children because he “lost the rag”, has been jailed for two years at Limerick Circuit Court.
Denis O’Keeffe, (54), with an address at Ballynanty Road, pleaded guilty to possessing a Webley revolver in suspicious circumstances on November 3, 2015.
The former soldier served with distinction on UN peace keeping missions in the Lebanon and Israel.
When he was arrested and interviewed, he told Gardaí that when he produced the gun, the two children who were aged ten and twelve and “acting like bold little c***s”, ran off fearing for their lives.
Det Garda Fergal Hanrahan said that he went to Mr O’Keeffe’s home after he received a report about the incident near a take-away on the Northside of the city.
He found the defendant drunk and lying on the couch. Although the gun could be used, it was rusty and in poor condition.
During interview, the 54-year-old said that as a retired firearms instructor in the army, he said dealing with guns was like cleaning his face.
Mr O’Keeffe gave various accounts why he had the gun these included excuses of having it for his own protection; having it in memory of his son who owned it and had died some months previously; that he got it to repair.
He also claimed that he brought it with him to the take-away for his own protection and kept it as a deterrent.
When the two boys got smart with him, he pulled out the gun.
“I lost my cool. Nobody was shot and nobody was going to get shot,” he said.
Det Garda Hanrahan said their only concern was to find out why O’Keeffe had the gun.
Defence Counsel Brian McInerney BL, said the gun was a rusty piece of metal and of World War One vintage.
Refusing to debate the “historical nature of the gun, Judge Tom O’Donnell said “a gun is a gun, is a gun. Whether it goes back to the Siege of Limerick in 1691 and is a musket.
“It was a working firearm and I must say I found his explanations puzzling,” he added.
After reviewing the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions said that the offence was in the mid range of sentencing and that a prison term of between seven and ten years would be appropriate.
Imposing a four year sentence, with the final two years suspended, Judge O’Donnell said that Mr O’Keefe had been described as a Walter Mitty type character and had lost a son in tragic circumstances.
