Shotgun pellets struck car seat carrying four-week-old baby

Court hears testimony from mother in Limerick weapons trial

A woman has described how pellets from a shotgun landed in a car seat with her four-week-old baby inside following a shooting at her home in Limerick.

In her evidence at Limerick Circuit Court, Leanne Casey said she took three shot gun pellets from her baby’s car seat in which her daughter Ellie Ann,who was born prematurely, was sitting.

The witness told the court the pellets had struck the head rest of the car seat.

She also described how her two-year-old son was screaming in his bedroom upstairs after two shots were fired at her house on Byrne Avenue, Prospect, Limerick.

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The first shot hit Ms Casey’s ex-partner Sean Finnan (27) who was standing at the front door having a cigarette, the court heard.

The evidence was heard in the trial of Ian Horgan, (31) of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick, who denies possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life at Byrne Avenue Prospect on December 12th, 2013.

The jury has been told that that Sean Finnan - a cousin of former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland player Steve Finnan - suffered multiple pellet wounds to his chest and abdomen and three pellet wounds to his wrist and forearm in the shooting.

During cross examination, Ms Casey - who identified Mr Horgan as the gunman - admitted her ex-partner had previous convictions for drug dealing but insisted she was not aware of any enemies he had at the time.

The witness accepted she also had a previous convictions for assault causing harm and for obstructing gardaí carrying out a drugs search.

It was also put to her by defence counsel Brian McInerney that her brother Liam Casey had received a prison sentence in connection with an incident involving a shot gun.

Ms Casey told the court she was not in court to represent her former partner or her brother but to defend her children and said she had no doubt as to the identity of the man who shot at her home, whom she ideintified as Ian Horgan.

In her evidence, Elaine Casey told the court that she was at home with her husband when their daughter Leanne rang and told he Sean Finnan had been shot.

The couple went to their daughter’s house. Mrs Casey said when they arrive, she saw Mr Finnan outside the house topless, holding a t-shirt to his body.

The trial continues next week when the jury will hear forensic evidence.