Gun-attack case witness cleared of firearms offence
An 18-year-old man who gave evidence in the trial of two cousins jailed for a gun attack with an AK47 assault rifle has been acquitted by a jury of a firearms offence.
Anthony O’Donovan, with an address at Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick, had denied the unlawful possession of an M57 Tucker pistol at Canon Breen Park, Thomondgate, Limerick, on June 4, 2003.
During the trial, Limerick Circuit Court heard evidence from three witnesses who claimed that they saw Mr O’Donovan at the scene of an incident in which shots were fired at a house.
The accused had denied possession of an M57 Tucker pistol, which gardaí found near the scene as part of their investigation.
The court heard that Mr O’Donovan had previously given evidence against cousins Ross Cantillon and Roy Woodland, who are currently serving jail terms after they were convicted of carrying out a drive-by shooting with a Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifle.
During this week’s trial, witness for the prosecution Avril Cantillon, who is a sister of Roy Cantillon, denied that she was trying to frame Anthony O’Donovan because he had given evidence against her brother.
Defence Counsel Brian McInerney BL, put it to the witness that she was trying to frame his client and that she wanted to get him “banged up”.
Ms Cantillon denied the suggestion and said she was "100% positive" that she had seen Anthony O'Donovan on the night of the shooting.
The witness gave further evidence that she had run after Mr O’Donovan on the night in question and saw him throw a “gun-shaped” object over a wall as he fled the scene of the shooting.
A jury of seven men and five women returned the majority not guilty verdict today after just over two and a half hours of deliberations at Limerick Circuit Court.
Judge Carroll Moran thanked the jury for their attention during the case and excused them from jury service for two years.
