Liam Keane back in court
A 21-year-old Limerick man who walked free from court last year after a murder trial dramatically collapsed was back in court today on road traffic offences.
Liam Keane, Singland Gardens, Ballysimon, Limerick, walked free from the Central Criminal Court in Dublin last November, where he had been accused of the murder of 19-year-old Eric Leamy in August 2001.
Earlier today, Limerick District Court heard that Liam Keane was arrested in the early hours of this morning in the Old Cork Road area of the city, allegedly driving a stolen motorbike.
He was charged with abusive behaviour, under Section 6 of the Public Order Act, and was also charged with two breaches of the Road Traffic Act - namely failing to give a breath sample and driving a stolen motorbike.
Mr Keane is further charged with having no driving licence and no insurance.
Garda John Divilly told the court that Keane made no reply when charged at Henry Street Garda Station.
A second accused, David Heighton (25), Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, is charged with being drunk in a public place, and allowing himself to be carried on a stolen motorbike.
Both men were granted bail and are due to appear before Limerick District Court on July 28 next.
Judge Tom O’Donnell ordered that both men sign on daily at Henry Street Garda Station and also imposed a curfew between 10pm and 7am.
In November last year, Liam Keane was before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin facing a murder charge.
His trial collapsed when three witnesses denied making statements to gardaí identifying Liam Keane as the killer of Eric Leamy, who died following a row in the Lee Estate area of Limerick city.
At the time Mr Justice Paul Carney remarked that a number of people were suffering from “collective amnesia” in the case.
The DPP ordered that a “nolle prosequi” be entered with Keane’s presumption of innocence still intact.
Two of the witnesses in the case were subsequently charged with committing perjury while under oath and a third man was charged with contempt of court after refusing to give evidence in the same case.
However, all three witnesses had the charges against them struck out last March in Limerick District Court as the book of evidence in the case was not served in time.
