Homicide verdict at inquest of man shot by friend who feared he was intruder

A verdict of homicide was returned by a jury on Thursday at an inquest into the death of a 67-year-old man shot dead by a friend who feared he was an intruder.

Brendan Kilduff, Sallyhernaun, Knock, Co Mayo, was fatally wounded when Martin Caulfield (85), Coogue, Aghamore, Co Mayo, discharged a double barrelled shotgun a number of times through the glass panels of his bungalow door.

The incident occurred just before midnight on September 19th, 2019, when Mr Kilduff went to visit Mr Caulfield. The deceased was wearing a headlight at the time, a habit to which he had become accustomed.

According to evidence given to Thursday’s inquests, three gunshots were discharged through the door.

Mr Kilduff managed to return to his car which was parked by the roadside. He drove a short distance before collapsing.

Giving evidence via video to Thursday’s hearing at Castlebar Courthouse, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan said the gunshot wounds had involved the internal organs including the heart and were directly responsible for death. Dr Mulligan gave the cause of death as shotgun wounds to the torso.

At the hearing, John Brady, solicitor, representing Mr Kilduff’s relatives, said a decision of the DPP not to prosecute in the matter had been “a difficult realisation for my clients”.

Following the announcement of the verdict, coroner for Mayo Pat O’Connor expressed his deepest sympathy with Mr Kilduff’s relatives and the wider community on their loss.