Ireland Case No. 21460Reckless discharge of a firearm; possession of a firearm · Co. Limerick · 11 Jun 2020
Man sentenced for reckless discharge of firearm in Limerick
On 11 June 2020, a shotgun discharged accidentally at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick, injuring Alan Murphy, who was treated at Limerick University Hospital for superficial abdominal injuries. Paul Coffey, 46, of Lord Edward Street, Limerick, was arrested and initially charged with attempting to murder Murphy, but the DPP dropped that charge. Coffey pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in March 2023 to reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm. On 18 April 2023, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to six years for possession and three years for reckless discharge, to run concurrently, backdated to August 2021.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court13 Mar
3 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 Apr
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A shotgun discharged accidentally, injuring Alan Murphy, who was treated at Limerick University Hospital for superficial abdominal injuries.
- Where
- The shooting took place at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick.
- When
- The offence took place on 11 June 2020.
- Weapon
- A shotgun was fired accidentally.
- Investigation
- Coffey was linked to the shooting by CCTV footage and firearms residue found on his clothing that matched residue in the car.
- Charges
- Coffey was initially charged with attempting to murder Alan Murphy, but the DPP dropped that charge and accepted a guilty plea to lesser offences.
- Coffey pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm in circumstances suggesting he did not have it for a lawful purpose.
- In court
- Coffey was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 13 March 2023 and sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns on 18 April 2023.
- Sentence
- Coffey was sentenced to six years for possession, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and three years for reckless discharge, to run concurrently, with a headline of nine years reduced for mitigating factors including the guilty plea.
- The sentences were backdated to August 2021, when Coffey first went into custody.
- Other details
- Coffey has 100 previous convictions, including manslaughter for his role as getaway driver in the 2000 shooting death of Eddie Ryan at the Moose Bar in Limerick.
- At the time of the offence Coffey was homeless and using crack cocaine and heroin; he is now drug-free in prison.
59 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPaul Coffey, 46, has an address at Lord Edward Street in Limerick city (irishtimes.com)
- whatPaul Coffey, aged 46, of Lord Edward Street, Limerick, was initially charged with attempting to murder Alan Murphy. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatPaul Coffey is 46 years old and lives on Lord Edward Street, Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCoffey has 100 previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCoffey was convicted of manslaughter for his role as getaway driver in the 2000 shooting death of Eddie Ryan at the Moose Bar in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe Eddie Ryan killing was a gangland-related murder that began a ten-year feud between rival families in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAlan Murphy was treated at Limerick University Hospital for superficial injuries to his abdomen. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatCoffey has been in custody since 2021 and is an enhanced prisoner on a drug-free landing working within the prison. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAt the time of the shooting, Coffey was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAlan Murphy confirmed to gardai that he and Coffey had been friends since childhood. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAlan Murphy told gardai that a person owed him €30,000 but was not responding to his texts or calls. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe firearm was in Alan Murphy's car and Coffey was summoned to remove it, at which point it discharged. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCoffey had been involved in drug treatment in 2019 but slipped back into addiction during the covid lockdowns. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCoffey pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm and to possession of a firearm. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA shotgun was fired and injured Coffey's friend. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatPaul Coffey pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm and to possession of a firearm in circumstances suggesting he did not have it for a lawful purpose. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim raised the alarm after driving to Castle Street, near King John's Castle. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe shooting happened at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on June 11, 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe shooting happened on 11 June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA shotgun was fired accidentally, injuring Coffey's friend. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationCoffey was linked to the shooting by CCTV footage and firearms residue found on his clothing that matched residue in the car. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCoffey was interviewed 17 times and initially denied any involvement, remaining silent in his final interview when asked to account for his presence at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage and firearms residue evidence linked Coffey to the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested Coffey and interviewed him 17 times. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCoffey was linked to the shooting by CCTV footage and firearms residue evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeCoffey was initially charged with attempting to murder Alan Murphy (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoffey pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person would be injured (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoffey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie)
- chargeCoffey pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person would be injured, at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick on 11 June 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeCoffey was initially charged with attempting to murder Alan Murphy at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross, Limerick on 11 June 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe DPP dropped the attempted murder charge and accepted a guilty plea to discharging a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person would be injured. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeCoffey also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference of unlawful possession. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the attempted murder charge. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtCoffey pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtProsecution counsel Cathleen Noctor SC told the court the plea was satisfactory to the DPP (irishtimes.com)
- courtNo victim impact statement was being sought (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie)
- courtCoffey was remanded in custody until 27 March for sentencing (irishtimes.com)
- courtCoffey was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday 13 March 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtDefence counsel requested a governor's report from Limerick Prison for the sentence hearing, which was granted. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtCoffey was remanded in custody until 27 March 2023 for sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe discharge offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years with a presumptive minimum of five years. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe DPP places the offence in the mid-range, carrying a headline sentence of seven to ten years. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Paul Burns will sentence Coffey on 18 April 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Coffey at the Central Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtCoffey denied any involvement in interview and remained silent when asked to account for his presence at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCoffey was sentenced to 15 years with the final seven years suspended for the manslaughter conviction. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceCoffey received six years with the final 12 months suspended for three years for the possession charge. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceCoffey received three years for reckless discharge, to run concurrently. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was nine years, reduced for mitigating factors including the guilty plea. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences were backdated to August 2021, when Coffey first went into custody. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceOn release Coffey must work with the probation services and keep the peace. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCoffey was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for three years on the possession charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of nine years and reduced it after considering mitigating factors including Coffey's guilty plea. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCoffey's sentence is backdated to August 2021, when he first went into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was treated at Limerick University Hospital for superficial abdominal injuries. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said the gun discharged as Coffey tried to remove it from the car. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherAt the time of the offence Coffey was homeless and using crack cocaine and heroin, and is now drug-free in prison. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Apr2023Convicted killer who was getaway driver in murder that sparked feud is jailed
Reports the sentencing of Paul Coffey at the Central Criminal Court, the judge's reduced headline sentence, the backdating of the sentence, and the release conditions. It also says the charge was downgraded from attempted murder and describes the evidence and the injuries to Alan Murphy.
convicted, Paul Coffey, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Coffeyvictim, Alan Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Alan Murphy - 18 Apr2023Limerick criminal jailed for 'accidentally' shooting his friend in car
Sentencing report at the Central Criminal Court. Coffey pleaded guilty to reckless discharge and firearm possession after an attempted murder charge was dropped. The article also reports the defence account that the gun discharged as Coffey tried to remove it from the car.
convicted, Paul Coffey, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Coffeyvictim, Alan Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Alan Murphy - 28 Mar2023Limerick criminal to be sentenced for 'accidentally' shooting his friend
Reports the pre-sentencing hearing on 28 March 2023, including the DPP's mid-range recommendation of 7–10 years, defence submissions on Coffey's chronic drug addiction and rehabilitation, details of the CCTV and firearms residue evidence, and the judge setting the sentencing date for 18 April 2023.
victim, Alan Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Alan Murphyaccused, Paul Coffey, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Coffey - 13 Mar2023Limerick man admits role in shooting incident
Coffey pleaded guilty to counts four and six (reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm) at the Central Criminal Court; no victim impact statement sought; governor's report from Limerick Prison requested for sentencing; remanded in custody until 27 March 2023.
victim, Alan Murphy, irish (judged from name)Alan Murphyaccused, Paul Coffey, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Coffey - 13 Mar2023Limerick man previously charged with attempted murder pleads guilty to discharging firearm
Reports the plea hearing at Central Criminal Court where Coffey, previously charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of discharging a firearm recklessly and possession of a firearm, with sentencing adjourned to 27 March.
victim, Alan Murphy, irish (judged from name)Alan Murphyaccused, Paul Coffey, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Coffey