Gardai warned a pensioner about the use of his gun four months before he tragically shot his friend dead, it has emerged.
Brendan Kilduff was killed when Martin Caufield mistook him for an intruder and blasted him in the chest through the glass panels of his front door.
The 85-year-old Co Mayo farmer was arrested at the scene after the shooting at 11.30pm on Tuesday but released the following night.
A source told the Irish Mirror: “He was shooting crows and using the gun regularly and a complaint was made to the Garda in May.
“The patrol car called out to the house and he was spoken to. They advised him about the firearm, that it had to be broken [made safe and unloaded] when he was walking on the road.
“He wouldn’t be the first to shoot crows on his land but there was
absolutely no intent to shoot Mr Kilduff.”
Another source said: “The man who reported him met him coming down a big hill on the road with the gun thrown over his shoulder and he complained he was very erratic looking.
“He was about 100 yards from the house but it was still on the public road.
“Other people were annoyed he was shooting crows at night-time and causing a disturbance.”
The Irish Mirror revealed on Thursday how Mr Kilduff had called to Mr Caufield’s home in Coogue, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, to pick up a mobile phone he left there before joining a beef protest.
When he returned he was wearing a headlamp as it was dark and this may have startled his friend.
Mr Caufield heard activity outside his home before he fired the fatal shots. It is believed he discharged the shotgun as a warning.
Mr Kilduff, a bachelor who lived in nearby Sallyhernaun, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Caufield, a single man with no children, was staying with relatives on Thursday after being questioned by gardai.
A file on the shooting is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
