A former Irish soldier drank at least six bottles of whiskey before bursting into the bedroom of his home and shooting at his wife who was saying her prayers, a court has heard.
Peter Walters appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal following the incident at Beechwood Avenue in Raphoe on May 17th, 2021.
The 57-year-old military enthusiast was charged that during the course of a dispute he produced, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, namely a decommissioned firearm capable of firing blank bullets.
The court was told that Walters spent seven years in the Defence Forces from 1981 until 1987, and had killed a man during combat and was discharged on mental health grounds.
He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of this incident in Lebanon in 1983 but had never been treated for the disorder.
He was also an alcoholic after experiencing what was described in court as a drink culture in the Army at that time, the court was told.
However, he remained interested in all military items and kept a collection at his house, including replica guns which were used in war re-enactments.
Heavy drinking
On the morning of May 17th, 2021, Walters had been drinking heavily and had consumed at least six bottles of whiskey in the previous 24 hours, the court heard.
His wife, Theresa Walters, had returned home after visiting her sick daughter in Drogheda and was involved in an incident near Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone on the way home and had to be taken to Cavan hospital for medical attention.
When she arrived home, Ms Walters took a shower, dressed in her pyjamas and got into bed. When her husband got into bed, he was described as being "pissed drunk". At 4am, he woke and filled a fresh glass of vodka, the court heard.
The following morning, Ms Walters had her rosary beads out and was praying when Walters came into the bedroom. Ms Walters described "a big loud bang" that was "deafening", and the rosary beads flew out of her hands.
"She thought he was going to kill her," Detective Garda John O’Sullivan said. Ms Walters told detectives: "I thought he wanted me dead."
Ms Walters was unaware that her husband was firing blank bullets, and he was shouting to her to get out of the house. He told her:"You’re not my wife. Get the f**king hell out of this house."
Det Gda O’Sullivan told the court: "She could see him pulling the trigger. There were flashes of light and loud bangs, and she could see rubber things flying at her arms.
"Her ears were ringing and she could smell the smoke from the gun. She didn’t know what he was capable of."
Ms Walters recalled how "his eyes were cold, like a cold-blooded killer, and he was fixated on what he was doing".
Pistol
The court was told that Walters is an ex-soldier and has a keen interest in weapons. The couple had visited Normandy for a D-Day Landing re-enactment and Walters purchased the firearm.
Gardaí attended to the scene at Beechwood Avenue around 10.20am. Det Gda O’Sullivan and two other armed detectives responded initially.
Officers noted movement in an upstairs bedroom and Det Gda O’Sullivan recalled seeing Walters dressed in a blue dressing gown.
Walters gestured at gardaí, putting his hands up as if to ask what’s going on," he said.
Walters came to the front door and had a black M1911 pistol in his hand, which was cocked with the barrel pointed skywards.
Det Gda O’Sullivan shouted three times to Walters to drop the gun before the accused pulled the magazine from the pistol.
Det Gda O’Sullivan had drawn his firearm and, rather than drop the gun, Walters removed the magazine and threw it back into the house.
"I was extremely concerned that he was trying to confuse me and made me think that his gun was empty," the Garda said.
Walters was given two further commands before officers stepped in and arrested him. Det Gda O’Sullivan said Walters' face was "bloated, red, and he appeared intoxicated".
Stash of weapons
In a subsequent search of the house, gardaí found a stash of weapons, including a Thompson submachine gun and a semi-automatic pistol and "other military items", the court was told.
Three rounds of blank cartridges were located on a desk in a room marked "Peter’s computer room", while blood staining was noted by officers.
In a locked glass display, which was covered by a curtain, gardaí found an Uzi machine pistol and other blank cartridges.
It was confirmed that all of the items found were legally held by Walters.
Counsel for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, said Walters was "obsessed with military history".
A ballistics test confirmed the pistol Walters was holding when gardaí arrived was "not capable of discharging bulleted ammunition", nor was another 9mm calibre pistol located by officers.
The court heard Walters served in the Army between 1981 and 1987. During a mission to Lebanon in 1983, Walters killed someone in order to protect other Irish soldiers.
“He is extremely traumatised by that and continues to have flashbacks,” Walter's counsel, Mr Peter Nolan, said.
Walters has seven previous convictions, four of which are for road traffic offences.
When Walters was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda station, he was too intoxicated to be interviewed, the court heard, having drank six bottles of vodka and whiskey in the previous 24 hours. Until this incident, the court heard Walters had not drank for 12 years.
"He told gardaí that he blacked out and doesn’t remember anything," Mr Nolan said.
Det Gda O’Sullivan said he felt it was Walters’ belief that gardaí were "making a bigger deal" out of the incident. The Garda added that he would be "extremely sceptical" whether Walters would get a firearms licence again.
'In fear of my life'
In her victim impact statement, Ms Waters detailed how the entire neighbourhood had been upset by what had happened, adding that one young family had moved out of the area.
She said she still has nightmares about the incident, recalling how her husband stood over her like a soldier pointing the gun at her face and pulling the trigger.
"The nightmares still haunt me to this day. I have been in fear of my life until today. I can now face you and tell you that I will do my best to rebuild my life," she said.
She added that she will do her best to forgive him, and that she hopes he can forgive himself.
Mr Nolan referred to medical reports from Walters' time in the Army, stressing that his clients is suffering from untreated PTSD after killing a man while on a UN peacekeeping mission.
He described that, during a nighttime attack by local militia in Lebanon, Walters saw a fighter ready to attack Irish soldiers with a machine gun, but he shot and killed the man.
"He has been significantly traumatised by that," Mr Nolan added.
"From that appalling situation in Lebanon, where he shot another human being, from that day on, it has been like a cancer eating away at him," he said.
Walters took to the witness stand and apologised to his wife, but Mr Nolan later told the court there was no question that their relationship was over.
Mr Nolan said his client was trying his best and had attended White Oaks Rehab Centre in a bid to combat his alcoholism and was also volunteering at the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary in Raphoe.
Counsel told the court Walters had not consumed any alcohol in two years, and a report from the Probation Services put him at a moderate risk of reoffending, but said he was not suitable for community service.
Mr Nolan also stressed that while Walters admitted having the replica guns, all had been licensed and used merely in re-enactments and all had now been removed and will be destroyed.
Asking the court to be as lenient as possible in sentencing, the barrister added: "I would ask the court to consider him a man trying to deal with his demons. I am convinced he will never come before the court again."
Judge Aylmer adjourned the case to consider all evidence before passing sentence.
