An inquest jury has recommended that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell carry out a review of firearms legislation after hearing evidence of how a farmer shot and killed a man in a land dispute before turning the gun on himself.
Gardaí told how they talked to the farmer for some two hours before he shot himself.
The jury at the inquest into the death of 30-year-old father of one, James Healy from Paulstown, Co Kilkenny, returned a verdict that he died as a result of an unlawful killing.
The jury then went on to return a verdict of suicide at the inquest into the death of 38-year-old Michael Kehoe from Coolyhune, St Mullins, Co Carlow.
"We call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to carry out a comprehensive review of the law on firearms and offensive weapons, particularly in the area of revoking licences, and bring forward necessary amendments and adequate resources for enforcement as soon as possible," said the jury.
Mr Healy's brother, Brian told how he had gone with his brother to fence off 26 acres of land which they had bought from Mr Kehoe's sister, Catherine, at Coolyhune on September 3rd.
They had stopped off at the Garda station at Graiguenamanagh to drop in copies of correspondence regarding an injunction Ms Kehoe had obtained against her brother.
Mr Healy told how they had allowed Mr Kehoe move his tractor from the fenced off land.
He returned five minutes later with his shotgun and fired a shot which missed before firing a second shot which wounded James Healy. He fired a third shot which fatally wounded him despite pleas from both of them.
"The second shot came quickly. I was in utter terror and I feared both of us were going to be killed. I was already through the gate into the next field when the second shot came. I heard James roaring," said Mr Healy. He saw Michael Kehoe take aim a third time and hit his brother in the back.
Mr Healy told how he went over to his brother: "I asked him was he okay. James shook his head, there was blood coming from his mouth and on his face."
Local farmer, Lar Cushen told how he heard a total of three shots, but only became concerned when he heard the second shot: "Then I heard a shout and a scream. I recognised Mick's voice and heard him shout, 'Get the f**k out of here and don't come back.' I then heard a third shot - I was very anxious."
Det Sgt John Hunt told how he and Det Sgt Jim Lyng approached Michael Kehoe in an outhouse with his shotgun that afternoon and spent over two hours trying to engage him in conversation, including offering him an opportunity to talk to family, a priest, a doctor, a solicitor or anyone else he wished to.
"There were long periods where he remained totally silent with his head in his hands as if in troubled contemplation," said Det Sgt Hunt.
At around 5.30pm, Mr Kehoe put the gun to his neck and fired, sustaining a fatal wound and dying within a matter of seconds.
State Pathologist, Prof Marie Cassidy told how she carried out postmortems on both men and found that Mr Healy had died from shotgun pellet injuries to the brain and lungs while Mr Kehoe died from a shotgun injury to the neck.
Toxicology tests showed neither man had taken drink or drugs.
Carlow County Coroner Dr Brendan Doyle said he would forward the jury's recommendation to the Minister's office and he extended his sympathies to both the Healy and the Kehoe families on their losses while condolences were also expressed on behalf of An Garda Síochána by Insp Denis O'Shea.
Afterwards the Healy family issued a statement in which they welcomed the jury's recommendation calling for a review of firearms legislation.
They also welcomed the fact that the inquest had established that there had been no confrontation between Mr Healy and Mr Kehoe prior to him shooting him.
