Pensioner denies shooting child

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6767433.stm

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A pensioner has denied wounding a five-year-old boy who was shot in the head as he played in a school playground two years ago.

Fergus Cleary, of Ballydoolagh Road in Garvary, outside Enniskillen, is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Darragh Somers in April 2005.

In court, Mr Cleary, 72, spoke only to say "not guilty" to the charge.

Darragh was shot in the back of the head as he played at St Patrick's Primary School, Mullanaskea.

He was critically injured and spent two months in hospital.

Surgeons carried out two major operations on the schoolboy to remove the .22 rifle bullet from his head.

A defence lawyer told the court that over the summer recess, they would be seeking a ballistics expert to forensically examine the gun and the bullet which was removed from Darragh's head.

The lawyer also said they would be applying to have the case thrown out of court and to have the venue for the hearing transferred.

Releasing Mr Cleary on continuing bail, Judge David McFarland listed the case for next September and said he would hear any applications then.