Deceased man threatened to rape my grandmother, says muder accused
A man accused of shooting his best friend in Co Kildare last year told gardaí the deceased threatened to rape his grandmother.
Darren Wynne (aged 21) of Ballyroe, Athy, Co. Kildare, Quentin Monaghan (aged 21) of Tullamoy, Stradbally, Co Laois and James Seery (aged 21) of Canal Side, Athy, were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court last week.
All three pleaded not guilty to murdering Jamie Lindsay (aged 20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co Kildare on April 6, 2013.
Mr Wynne also pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life on that occasion.
Mr Wynne pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on the same date.
Mr Seery and Mr Monaghan were arraigned on a number of further counts on Monday.
Both men pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.
Mr Seery and Mr Monaghan also pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on the same date.
The court has heard that Mr Lindsay was shot in the right eye at almost point blank range, after being lured into the open at the Coneyboro estate.
It is the State’s case that Mr Seery and Mr Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise.
Today, Monica Lawlor BL prosecuting read further memos of garda interviews with Mr Wynne.
Mr Wynne told gardaí that Mr Lindsay, who he said was his best friend, was threatening him over €1,000 for ‘green’ that had gone missing.
He said he shot Mr Lindsay and the shoulder but only wanted to kneecap him and did not mean to kill him.
He told gardaí that the day before the incident they had words over drugs that went missing and it continued until the next day.
He told gardaí in the interview that that Mr Lindsay threatened to rape his grandmother, burn his house and wipe out his family.
“He said he was going to rape my granny…I think he said he’d get a junkie to do it.”
“He tried to accuse me of robbing the green,” Mr Wynne told gardai.
“The more I thought of it, the thicker I got,” he added.
He said he told Mr Monaghan if he came with him he promised to give him the gun after he gave a warning shot to Mr Linsday.
Mr Wynne told gardaí that if he had known he killed Mr Lindsay he would not have given the gun to Mr Monaghan.
During the interviews he told gardaí he had taken medication he was prescribed and was falling asleep.
Under cross-examination, Detective Sergeant P.J. O’Brien agreed with Damien Colgan SC defending Mr Wynne that in the first interview his client was trying to distance himself from the shooting.
He further agreed that after meeting with his solicitor there was an account given by him of what happened.
Det Sgt O’Brien also agreed that he told gardaí that Mr Lindsay made a run at him.
He said Mr Wynne told gardai that Mr Lindsay had started to threaten him over a bit of ‘green’ and told him he would not see the end of the week if he didn’t produce the money.
The trial continues before a jury of eight men and four women with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan presiding.
