Serial offender from Dundalk jailed for inflicting 'abject terror' on day his daughter was born

A serial offender who was originally charged with an attempted murder on the day his daughter was born but pleaded guilty to a lesser firearms offence has been jailed by a Central Criminal Court judge for inflicting "abject terror" on his victim.

William Duffy (40) with an address at Park Green, Coulter Place, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty (GUILTY) in July to discharging a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person would be injured, at around 11pm on May 28, 2019, at Marian Park in Dundalk.

Four hours before the incident, the court heard, Duffy was seen on CCTV leaving the hospital in Dundalk before eventually arriving at Marian Park.

Last month, Duffy was allowed to briefly address Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and pledged to "never" come before the courts again if "given a chance".

At Duffy's sentence hearing, Seamus Clarke SC, prosecuting, said Duffy had pleaded guilty to the reckless discharge of a weapon towards Keith Shields, who left a house in the area at around 11pm on the night before walking through Marian Park on his way home.

At the Central Criminal Court yesterday (MONDAY), Ms Justice Biggs jailed Duffy for three years and six months with the final nine months suspended for what she described as causing “abject terror” to Mr Shields.

Ms Justice Biggs said that although Duffy’s DNA was found on shell casings recovered from the park, he had originally denied all involvement in the discharge of the weapon before entering a guilty plea on his trial date.

The judge said Duffy believed that Mr Shields had treated his partner and children “very poorly” but that there was no evidence to support this belief and no charges had been brought against Mr Shields.

Ms Justice Biggs said Duffy had 42 previous convictions with 30 of those recorded in England.

The judge said Duffy had convictions for affray, burglary, threatening or abusive behaviour, drunkenness, road traffic offences, theft and assault.

An assessment of Duffy reported that he was not at a high risk of recidivism and that he exhibited genuine remorse, shame, an acceptance of wrongdoing and had an insight into his offending, said the judge.

Ms Justice Biggs noted that Duffy had been coaching boxing in the community in Dundalk for a period of 18 months, had the promise of work and had a positive prison governor’s report.

The judge said the “planned event” of the night was evinced by Duffy being a passenger in the car after he obtained a gun, a scarf and a hoodie, which were used to disguise himself.

Ms Justice Biggs said Mr Shields had been “followed” on the night by Duffy and that shots were twice fired in his direction to “scare or terrify” Mr Shields.

“The reason put forward by Mr Duffy was that a family was at risk where he himself had a rough childhood – a form of rough justice,” said Ms Justice Biggs.

The judge said she was taking into account that there was “no evidence that this was gangland activity, nor gang-related activity involving drugs”, which would have been an aggravating factor.

The judge said that Duffy had a “troubled” childhood and was “exposed to actions by a person in authority” before developing a difficulty with first alcohol and then speed, weed, ecstasy and heroin.

Ms Justice Biggs said that when Duffy was abstinent, he could manage his addiction issues and had been involved in boxing and MMA to a “quite successful” level but that he had made his decision to target Mr Shields while under the influence of an intoxicant.

Ms Justice Biggs said the maximum penalty for the discharge of the firearm was seven years but placed the offence at the upper end of the middle range, which resulted in a pre-mitigation sentence of four years and eight months.

Ms Justice Biggs said Duffy qualified for a discount of 25% due to “significant” mitigating factors, leaving three years and six months to be served.

Ms Justice Biggs said she would reduce the remaining three years and six months by suspending nine months to incentivise Duffy towards his rehabilitation, in light of his expression to no longer use alcohol or drugs.

Madeleine Grant BL, for the State, said a withdrawing 'nolle prosequi' could be entered on the attempted murder charge.

At Duffy’s sentence hearing, Mr Clarke said that when Mr Shields was making his way into the park he recognised a man he knew in a black Audi parked nearby.

The Audi passed him and turned at a cul-de-sac at Marian Park, where it stopped sideways to Mr Shields and the passenger door opened. 

Counsel said that Duffy got out of the car and, dressed in dark clothing, positioned himself "six or seven feet away" from Mr Shields.

Mr Clarke said Mr Shields and Duffy knew each other for the four or five years since Duffy had returned to Ireland from England and were also familiar with each other through martial arts.

Counsel said Duffy pulled up his hood, put a scarf over his face and pulled something from his waistband at which Mr Shields "took off, running".

Mr Shields heard two shots and ran to hide in nearby bushes from where he called 999, whispering to the operator that he could hear footsteps.

Detective Garda Liam Gallagher told Mr Clarke that he found Mr Shields still in the bushes after the Audi left the scene.

Det Gda Gallagher said a search of Duffy's home was carried out and that the accused's DNA matched DNA found on recovered shell casings.

When interviewed, Duffy said he "hadn't a clue" how his DNA was on the shell casings and that there were "millions of bullets out there". Duffy first denied shooting at anyone and accused the gardaí of trying to "stitch him up", said Mr Clarke.

In an interview, Duffy told gardaí that he had left the hospital in Dundalk at 7pm - four hours before the shooting - and was at home that night. He also claimed that he may have touched the casings at a house party.

Mr Clarke read a victim impact statement, which told how the incident "messed up" Mr Shields' life, that he had tried to take his own life six times, that he could not sleep and that he suffered from depression.

Dominic McGinn SC, defending, said Duffy was "ashamed and disgusted with himself for his involvement" and had "genuine remorse, insight and acceptance" regarding his wrongdoing. 

At the sentence hearing, Duffy was allowed to briefly address Ms Justice Biggs and said: "If given a chance I will never come before you again. I have never had a chance to address my drug issues."