The trial of Gort man Anthony Burke continues in Galway today, after hearing details of how he was shot and wounded at the end of his 21 hour stand off with Gardaí.
The 42 year old from Crowe Street, Gort has admitted he intended to damage property in the siege at his home in October of 2006 but has pleaded Not Guilty to having two shotguns and ammunition with intent to endanger life or under suspicious circumstances.
A sniper rifle was used by a specially trained Garda marksman to shoot Anthony Burke in the shoulder when he emerged from his home at Crowe Street Gort armed with a loaded shotgun, following the 21-hour siege
The Garda sniper was part of a 13-man Emergency Response team flown in by helicopter when Burke began a siege at his home following a domestic dispute with his partner at 11 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2006.
The court heard on Friday that prior efforts to convey a message to the accused though the media that he should contact Gardaí immediately and that everything would be alright had not succeeded.
The trial has also heard that the Crowe Street Siege came about after Anthony Burke had been drinking heavily, after the death of his father and losing his job, and that the accused didn’t want to commit "suicide by cop", but hoped one of the Gardaí would "drop him" when he exited the house
