COURT HEARS HOW GARDA SHOT DRUG ADDICT

A Garda shot a drug addict who robbed a shop at knifepoint while unlawfully
at large from prison, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday.

Eamon Kane and another masked man entered Bord na gCeapairi, a newsagent
and tobacconist in Nassau Street, at about 6.30 p.m. on January 12th, 1998,
and locked two staff members in the basement.

A garda saw the robbery, noted the robbers had a knife and called for backup.

Det Sgt Seamus Kane said a garda drew his service weapon and ordered the
thieves to drop the knife. But the men then "sprang" at the armed garda,
and two shots were discharged which hit Kane in the shoulder and leg.

Det Sgt Kane told Ms DAna NED Raifeartaigh, prosecuting, that the pair
ran to the grounds of Trinity College where a medical student found Kane
bleeding heavily and may have saved his life before he was taken to hospital.

Kane (25), a father of one, from Dolphin House, Rialto, had been serving a
four-year sentence but had failed to return to Mountjoy Prison after being
granted leave to attend his grandmother's funeral.

He pleaded guilty to his role in the shop robbery.

Judge Kevin Haugh imposed a three-year sentence with the final year suspended.

Det Sgt Kane agreed with Mr Paul McDermott, defending, that the defendant
realised he had been close to death as a result of the shooting. If one
bullet had been a fraction lower he would have died.

The detective had visited Kane several times in hospital and in prison
since then and believed he showed a positive attitude about his future.