Firearm discharged from house in Co Cork
A near seven-hour armed siege has ended peacefully after an 89-year-old man walked out of his home, after a shot was earlier fired when gardai went to his house to revoke his firearms licence.
According to Garda sources at least one shot was “discharged” from the County Cork home of Tom O’Callaghan shortly before lunchtime today.
Gardai beat a hasty retreat following the shooting at a farmhouse at Lower Ballmount, Crookstown – just a few kilometres from where Michael Collins was shot dead at Beal na Blath.
The elderly farmer then barricaded himself inside.
Gardai immediately surrounded O’Callaghan’s home, bringing in two armed Regional Support Units (RSU), experienced negotiators along with ambulances and an inter-agency mobile control centre.
So as not to panic people living in the area, gardai told them roads around the farm had been sealed off due to a traffic accident and the Garda Press Office asked for a media blackout as attempts were made to bring about a peaceful resolution.
Shortly before 7pm Mr O’Callaghan walked out of the house and was confronted by armed gardai who temporarily detained him.
A garda spokesman said that he was not arrested and they subsequently seized two legally-held firearms.
The spokesman added that nobody had been injured during the siege, but their investigations were continuing.
It’s understood the elderly man was subsequently assessed by a local doctor.
