MAN AT CENTRE OF GORT SIEGE DUE TO TAKE THE STAND

Date Published: 14-May-2009

The man at the centre of the Gort siege two years ago is due to take the stand today, day 7 of his trial at Galway District CourtHe told Gardai after the 21 hour gun siege that he didn’t care if they shot and killed him when he emerged from his home armed with a shotgun because he felt he would not survive a long term in prison.Anthony Burke from 67 Crowe Street said in Garda interviews afterwards he couldn’t care less at the time if they shot him but he remembered hoping they would “take him down”.He denies having two shotguns and 1400 shotgun in his possession with intent to endanger life at his home between October 8 and 9, 2006, but he admits having the firearms with intent to injure property. He also denies having the shotguns under suspicious circumstances during the same incident.