Wild West gun law in Glen? asks DJ

A JUDGE asked if a man thought Glenamaddy was the Wild West where a parking dispute could be settled by producing a gun, when he heard the case against a local man who did just that in the early hours of the morning. [private] District Judge Geoffrey Browne said it was crazy to think someone would produce a shotgun outside a take-away over a simple parking dispute and expressed the hope that the Gardai would take this incident and the case into consideration if the defendant applies for a new gun licence. Tuam District Court heard that on October 30 at 2 am there was an incident outside a Chinese take-away in Glenamaddy. A dispute arose between drivers over a minor traffic incident. The defendant, Adrian Joyce of Lakeview, Creggs Road, Glenamaddy, flashed his light and blew his horn at a man eating his take-away in a car. Joyce then raised a shotgun which the other party found frightening and intimidating. 'Is this normal procedure in Glenamaddy? If you don't like the take-out you pull a gun,' asked Judge Browne. Danny McGrath solr (defending) explained that there was a verbal altercation between the two drivers on the night. 'So he produces a gun?' asked the Judge. The defence argued that Joyce was charged with the unauthorised possession of the gun but not threatening anyone with it. His client had the gun for a long number of years but had failed to renew his licence in time. He had carried out the paperwork with the Gardai but had failed to pay the gun licence fee at the Post Office. This was why he was being charged with unlawful possession. Judge Browne asked what time this incident had occurred and was told 2 am. He demanded to know what Joyce was doing with a shotgun in Glenamaddy at 2 am. Danny McGrath insisted that his client had been out shooting with a friend that day and the shotgun was in the back of the van they were in and was broken for safety. Insp Michael O'Dwyer  said that Joyce's companion on the night had intervened to get him to put down the gun. Joyce told the man he was in confrontation with to: 'Get to f*** out of my way or I'll show you what I'll do with you.' The victim was said to have been terrified by the sight of the shotgun being produced. The defence pleaded that Joyce was 34 and had never been in Court before. He had a partner and two children and was going through a lot of personal issues at the time. He suffered three bereavements in his immediate family and 'flipped' on the night. Imposing a €500 fine for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and €250 fine for a breach of the Public Order Act, Judge Browne asked where Joyce thought he was, the Wild West. He added that anyone who drives around at that hour of the night showing a shotgun didn't deserve sympathy. He concluded by saying that no doubt the Garda Superintendent would take this conviction into account when Joyce tries to renew his gun licence again. [/private]