Four Years For Man Who Shoot Cousin Twice Over Will Dispute

A man was jailed for four years yesterday after he pleaded guilty to shooting his cousin twice in the legs with a shotgun in a dispute over his mothers will.

Vincent O'Donnell, 47, a hairdresser, of Knocknabrone, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty to shooting Dympna Walshe at the Costcutters Store in Balla, Co Mayo, on May 31, 2011.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a double-barrelled shotgun with intent to cause serious harm.

Seven-year prison sentences, to run concurrently, were imposed for each charge at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar yesterday, with judge Rory McCabe suspending the final three years of each sentence and ordering O'Donnell to get addiction counselling.

Mr O’Donnell believed Ms Walshe had persuaded his mother to change her will.

Detective Garda Roisin Loftus told the court that Mr O’Donnell had grown up with Ms Walshe, his second cousin, in Mayo Abbey and she was friendly with his mother, Maureen O'Donnell.

Mrs O'Donnell had made a will and then changed it. In July 2008 Mrs O'Donnell gave Ms Walshe a bank draft for €5,000 and three complaints were subsequently made to gardai by Ms Walshe of hostile behaviour towards her by Vincent O'Donnell.

The accused was arrested by armed officers in his local bar, Malachy Byrne's Pub in Mayo Abbey, hours after the shooting. O'Donnell told gardai: "Are ye here to take me away? I'm finished."

After caution he said: "I shot her. I shot her and she fully wanted it. I shot her."

(H)