A pensioner who said he could not take any more attacks on his home blasted three teenagers with a shotgun, crippling one for life, Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday.
Despite calls for help to the police for 10 years, the home of Mr Albert New (75) in George Avenue, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, was under constant attack from teenage vandals.
On August 8th last year, after his front window was stoned again, the pensioner "just had enough" and took matters into his own hands, said Mr Carl Simpson QC, prosecuting. Brandishing a shotgun, he confronted one frightened teenager and then fired on a group of others running away.
Mr James Morrow (18) was left crippled for life after being shot in the spine, shoulder and back, Mr Simpson said. A 15-year-old girl still has a shotgun pellet lodged in her back. Her 15-year-old boyfriend was wounded but has made a full recovery.
Mr Morrow claimed it was the first time he had ever been in George Avenue, and that he was there minding his own business.
He had been "walking past Albert's house. The next thing I heard a stone hitting a window. I walked on and people ran in front of me and I just walked on and the next thing Albert came out with a shotgun.
"I heard a big shot and the next thing I was lying on the ground. I tried to move my legs, but I couldn't move them . . .Albert came up and said he was sorry."
Mr Simpson said Mr New told detectives that "every Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays you get these people coming from clubs and throwing stones" at his home and that he had reported it to the police. "He just had enough that night, but regretted what happened." Mr New, he added, claimed he had fired in the air to frighten the teenagers, but prosecution witnesses would say he took an aimed shot at them.
The trial continues today.