Heartless thug sent chilling Christmas card from prison to vulnerable victim months after shooting her in the neck
Gavin Sheehan was jailed for 14 years with the last three years suspended
A THUG who shot a young woman in the neck when he fired bullets at a house sent her a chilling Christmas card from jail, a court heard today.
Gavin Sheehan, 30, a self-confessed police informant, left Ciara Sheehan with a bullet lodged in her neck after shooting the window of a property in Cork on May 15, 2016.
Ms Sheehan had to undergo surgery twice to remove the bullet and feared she would die.
Sheehan, of Shanakiel, Cork, was today found guilty of recklessly discharging the firearm at Hollywood Estate and jailed for 14 years, with the last three years of his sentence suspended.
The court heard that Mr Sheehan sent a Christmas card from prison to his victim causing her immense trauma and upset. In a victim impact statement Ms Sheehan, who is no relation to Gavin Sheehan, said that her life had been ruined by the incident.
"The 14th of May 2016 was the night that changed my life forever. The night I got shot. The night I thought I was going to die. It was like something out of a movie. I am not the happy Ciara I was last year. I have a big ugly scar.
"Some nights I can't sleep because I have flashbacks. I miss days off because of psychiatric appointments. I got a Christmas card from Gavin and that set me back a lot.
"I just want to get back to the old Ciara. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. If I hear a loud bang I get a fright. I hope this man gets the help he needs."
In giving evidence during the seven day trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last year Ms Sheehan recounted the trauma she suffered in the incident.
"I was standing in front of the window. I heard a loud bang. We ran towards the kitchen. I felt my throat was getting all tight, my face was burning. I touched my neck, there was blood on my hands. That is when I realised I got shot in the neck."
At Cork Circuit Criminal Court today Det Sgt Denis Lynch said there was an ongoing dispute between Mr Sheehan and members of the Cunningham family.
Dylan Cunningham was in a fast food restaurant in Blackpool, Cork on May 14, 2016 with his girlfriend, Ciara Sheehan, when Mr Sheehan came in and there was a punch thrown.
Sgt Lynch said there was a series of incidents at midnight on May 14, including the smashing of windows at Hollywood Estate.
The court heard at 1.10am on May 15, Ms Cunningham was in her boyfriend's house in Hollywood Estate when she heard a loud bang that she thought was a firework. She fell to the ground quickly realising that she had been shot.
Miraculously the bullet lodged in her neck and surgeons at Cork's South Infirmary Hospital managed to extract it, sparing her paralysis or even death.
Sgt Lynch said CCTV from Mr Sheehan's own home helped to convict him as he was seen brandishing a gun on the night of the incident.
When he was arrested Mr Sheehan acknowledged that he was in a dispute with the Cunninghams. However, he failed to co operate with gardai in any way.
The court heard from Mr Sheehan's defence who said that Gavin's parents had been subjected to a number of attacks since the incident. It was put to gardai by the defence that Mr Sheehan was a garda informer up to Christmas 2015.
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However, Sgt Lynch refused to comment on the suggestion put to him by counsel that Mr Sheehan had given gardai names of people who were involved in the drugs, gun and criminal trade.
Mr Sheehan was sentenced after being found guilty of four charges.
The first charge was that at his home on May 15, Mr Sheehan had in his possession a Smith and Wesson 60.96 semi-automatic firearm giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession for a lawful purpose.
Secondly, he was charged with possession of a single 9 millimetre calibre round of ammunition at Hollywood Estate, Blarney Rd, on the same date.
The third charge states that he discharged a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person was injured or not on Sunday, May 15, at Hollywood estate.
The fourth charge was one of assault causing serious harm, where he intentionally or recklessly assaulted Ms Sheehan causing her serious harm.
He was also sentenced in relation to two counts of criminal damage to which he had pleaded guilty.
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain jailed Mr Sheehan for 14 years with the last three years suspended after he expressed disgust that that the accused had not shown an ounce of remorse.
"The level of criminality of the accused is huge. This man mercilessly took a gun and fired it in to a dwelling house that was lit and occupied. He hasn't shown a shred of remorse. He tried to blaggard the victim by sending her a Christmas card to add to her trauma and suffering. This in my view was reprehensible."