A DEFIANT Co Offaly homeowner, who twice fired shots at intruders in just seven days, has insisted he will continue to defend his property.
Dan O’Sullivan, a 55-year-old former lorry driver from Edenderry, had his legally held shotgun removed by gardaí on Monday, May 23rd.
The weapon was taken for examination after Mr O’Sullivan discharged a shot through his front door as burglars attempted to gain entry at 12.15am.
The intruders fled leaving a sledgehammer and scaffolding bar outside the house.
Speaking yesterday, Mr O’Sullivan said he usually used his shotgun for clay pigeon shooting but,“if I hadn’t got that they’d have got in, two or three of them, and they might have killed me”.
A second attempted burglary took place on Monday morning when intruders smashed the bedroom window of Mr O’Sullivan’s home at about 1am. “They just thought they could do it – they broke a pane of glass.
“It was a good thing I wasn’t in bed,” he said.
On hearing the window pane break, Mr O’Sullivan, who had been in another room watching television, loaded a friend’s shotgun and ran into the bedroom.
“I fired your man’s gun at them. I fired a shot just to make them go away,” he said.
The shot was fired through a window as the two raiders fled.
Mr O’Sullivan said he was taking care of the gun for a friend who was uncomfortable keeping the weapon at home near his children.
Gardaí have also removed that gun for examination.
Mr O’Sullivan said he is receiving support from neighbours and friends following the incidents.
“I’m staying in my house – let them come again if they want to,” he said. “It’ll be worse for the criminal because he will be driven out of the place.”
He believes home invasions are on the rise in rural areas because, “you will get scumbags that think there is money hidden. They are just looking for easy targets.”
During both attempted burglaries, Mr O’Sullivan believes the intruders were not concerned by the fact that the property was occupied.
Gardaí arrested an 18-year-old man following the latest incident.
He was held for questioning at Tullamore Garda station before being released yesterday. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.