Edenderry man fires shotgun as raiders attempt break-in

An Edenderry victim of attempted robbery who used a shotgun to defend himself is today waiting to get it back after it was ceased by Gardai investigating the incident. Fifty-five year old Dan O'Sullivan was in bed in the home he lives in alone approximately two miles outside Edenderry last Sunday night just past midnight when he was disturbed by would-be intruders. "At about quarter past midnight I heard noise," he recounted. "I knew I was in trouble." Though he knew his home had "a good strong door", he said also knew it wouldn't offer him total protection. After grabbing his legally held shotgun he ran down into his back kitchen and opened a back door, beyond which was the door being attacked. After his shouts to go away went unheeded, Mr O'Sullivan fired the gun he has kept for shooting pheasants in the past, but more recently for protection. "Other than having the shotgun I wouldn't be talking to you today," he told the Offaly Independent yesterday. "I could be still tied up in a room and you wouldn't know." The unemployed lorry driver who worked for Holts Builders Providers until almost a year ago scared the intruders off with his shot, but they left without their weapons - a sledgehammer and a scaffolding bar that Mr O'Sullivan said they were using "like an axe to break the door". Edenderry Gardai were on the scene within minutes of being called by Mr O'Sullivan's neighbour. However by that stage the intruders had made their getaway. Though Mr O'Sullivan held his firearm legally and believes he acted within his rights, his gun was ceased by Gardai as part of their investigation. A vulnerable Mr O'Sullivan said yesterday he would "prefer to have it back" but Edenderry Gardai said this isn't possible at present. Sergeant Kevin Quinn from Edenderry explained the firearm was sent for examination as a matter of course. He said the attempted burglary on Mr O'Sullivan's house wasn't one of a spate of robberies, but he did ask for people in the area to check that all windows and doors are secured and alarms activated before leaving their homes, and put alarms on at night if one has been fitted too. He also appealed for anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious on Sunday night from 11.30pm onwards to get in touch with Edenderry Garda Station on 046 9731290.