Man cleared of Bulwell gun threat charge

A MAN has walked free after a court found him not guilty of aiming a loaded gun at a family in their Bulwell home.

Declan Madigan, 22, always denied being the gunman who allegedly threatened the family in Irwin Drive on the night of May 18.

Yesterday, a jury at Nottingham Crown Court cleared him of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was also found not guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, having a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition.

Mr Madigan was arrested by a police dog handler in Lodgewood Close, Bulwell, within an hour of the incident in Irwin Drive. PC Mark Johnson stopped a Citroen Zara carrying Mr Madigan and three others because he thought it was "worth a stop-and-search".

All four men were arrested and a .22 calibre revolver was later found close to where the car had stopped, jurors were told. But Mr Madigan denied knowing anything about the gun or the incident in Irwin Drive.

In interviews with police after his arrest, he said he was savaged by a police dog and had not tried to run from the officer. Mr Madigan was treated by a nurse during police interviews for bites sustained at his arrest.

He told police: "I've got out of the passenger side, I've walked around the car and the dog's bit me. I never tried to run from no one. I never made off nowhere. I've done nothing wrong. He's let the dog savage me."

Not guilty verdicts were also entered yesterday for two charges against another defendant. James Savage, 22, of Abercarn Close, Bulwell, was cleared of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing a prohibited firearm.

A third defendant, Shane Bell, 23, of Norbreck Close, earlier pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence in connection with the incident.

He will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

kate.skelton@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk