A young father who served as a look out while another man used an improvised shot gun to shoot at a window of a house in Cork has been jailed for three years.
Craig Condron (22), of Templeacre Avenue, Gurranabraher, Cork, was on a “downward spiral” following the death of a close relative when the offence occurred in August last year, Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Dt Garda Gary Purtill said gardaí received a report of a smashed window and patio door at a property in Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Co Cork, at about 5.40pm on August 23rd, 2024
He told Judge Dermot Sheehan that an improvised – slambang – firearm was discharged at the property.
The two culprits fled the scene at speed and within a few minutes the motorbike on which they were travelling knocked down an old man at a crossroads on the northside of Cork city. The improvised fire arm was left at the scene of the collision.
Condron fled the jurisdiction and was arrested upon his return in October last year. He was detained at Gurranabraher Station where he made full admissions. The other co-accused in the case was arrested at the scene. His case is also before the courts.
Emmet Boyle, prosecuting, said the other man discharged the firearm. He told the court Condron “kept the motorbike running” while the other man carried out the damage to the property.
He said that Condron was 21 at the time of the offence. The young man has 24 previous convictions.
Mr Boyle said that it was the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions that the offending carried out by the accused was at the “lower level of the scale.”
He said that Condron was a sketch or look out at the scene and was “not involved in the brandishing or discharge of the firearm.”
He described the firearm as being “unsophisticated in nature.”
Defence counsel Tom Creed SC said his client had been doing well in life prior to the loss of his brother to a drugs overdose.
"He [Craig] spiralled out at the the material time. This is most unfortunate.
"He has a young son who will be one in March. His mother and partner are here. They are supportive.
"He has a good work history. He is good with his hands. He was homeless at the time of the offence and began to take tablets. Then it started to all go wrong."
Mr Creed said Condron was anxious to sort out his drug problems and wanted to turn his life around.
He said his client has been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings whilst in custody and is furthering his education having dropped out of school during the Junior Certificate.
“He is anxious to sort himself out. He doesn’t want to be in and out of jail for the rest of his life. He is pretty good at keeping jobs. He wants to finish his apprenticeships when he gets out of jail.”
Judge Sheehan noted that Condron had made full admissions saving the state the cost of a trial.
The judge said it was unfortunate that the motor bike collided with a pensioner who was crossing the road.
However, he said the evidence was that it was the co-accused who was driving the motorbike. Condron was his passenger.
Taking in to account his age, remorse and the fact that his part in the offence was at the lower level of the scale Judge Sheehan jailed Condron for four years, suspending the last year of the sentence.
Condron had pleaded guilty to one count of allowing himself to be carried on a stolen bike and to two counts under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
The first firearms charge states that at Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, on August 23rd, he had a firearm, namely a 12-gauge improvised shotgun for an unlawful purpose.
The second charge relates to the same time and place and refers to the possession of ammunition – a 12-gauge Winchester brand cartridge.
