A man who fired shots into a Co Tyrone bar has been jailed.
Robert McCrum (52) of Eskragh Terrace, Dungannon admitted possessing a shotgun and a handgun to cause fear of violence, affray and damaging a window.
The shots were fired at Tailors House Bar in Ballgawley on August 28 2022, and in the aftermath McCrum fled the scene, but later handed himself in to police.
He had been in the bar earlier but left following a disagreement, returning a short time later.
CCTV footage showed a car driven by McCrum in possession of two firearms.
A shot was fired from the driver’s side, followed by a second smashing a window in the premises.
McCrum, who held a firearms certificate, attended a friend’s home and asked him to store two guns, before travelling to the Republic.
Three days later he surrendered and was arrested.
The defence pointed out McCrum attended with police of his own volition to make a complaint against a person in the bar and was arrested.
The defence highlighted McCrum’s pleaded guilty and was “remorseful”.
“Alcohol was a factor in the offending and the run-up to it,” the defence said.
“This would not have occurred but for alcohol and immediate, ready access to firearms.”
It was stressed the defendant has misused alcohol for years and has some “deficiencies in intellectual capacity” which the defence originally suggested may have caused concerns over fitness to plead.
It was accepted the custody threshold was passed, however, in arguing for this to be suspended the defence pointed to, “exceptionality in the fact the firearms were legally held. Nobody was injured and damage was limited”.
Judge Bagnall noted after being asked to leave the bar McCrum “deliberately returned with two firearms, both of which were discharged. I can draw no other conclusion than this was a genuine attempt to frighten those at the bar”.
“Fortunately no-one was injured but given the nature of the incident it would appear that those who witnessed suffered distress and upset.”
She imposed a sentence of two years and two months and McCrum was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.
The guns will be destroyed.