THE man on trial on charges arising out of the firing of a shot through the front room window of a house in Cork city in May was questioned about a comment recovered from his phone where he allegedly said, “I’m packing well.”
Gavin Sheehan, 30, of 7 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, pleaded not guilty to charges against him arising out of an incident which occurred on May 15.
The jury was told yesterday of interviews with the accused by investigating gardaí in relation to a comment made the previous day, May 14.
Detective Garda Pat Condon and Det. Garda Rory McGrath questioned Sheehan about communications recovered from his phone.
Details of this questioning was put before Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin and the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
The detectives said to Sheehan that there was a conversation that he (Sheehan) allegedly had with a third party, details of which were recovered from his phone, in which he said on May 14, “I am packing well.”
He made no reply when this was put to him despite legal warnings about inferences that could be drawn from failure to reply to questions.
The detectives asked him if he was aware that ‘packing’ was a common term for possession of a firearm. Sheehan replied, “No.”
Before the warning of inferences that could be drawn from answers the defendant was questioned about the firearm. “Where is the firearm you used last night, we have concerns for public safety?”
He replied, “I don’t know what you are on about.”
He was asked, “Did you fire a shot last night?”
He replied, “No I did not.”
Asked if he had a problem with Dylan Cunnigham – who lives at the house where the shot was fired through the window – Sheehan said, “We are not great but I wouldn’t do anything like that.”
Asked if he had intended to shoot Dylan Cunningham’s girlfriend he said he did not do so, he did not fire a gun or have a gun and he did not have anything against that young woman.
Gavin Sheehan pleaded not guilty to a charge that at his home at Laurel Ridge on the May 15 he had in his possession a Smith and Wesson 60.96 semi-automatic firearm.
He denied that he discharged a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person was injured or not on Sunday, May 15, at Hollywood estate. He denied assault causing serious harm where he intentionally or recklessly assaulted Ciara Sheehan, causing her serious harm. He denied a further charge related to ammunition.
The trial continues today.
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