British man sent forward to face bouncer murder trial
A British national charged with the murder of Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald nearly three years ago has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.
James Martin Cahill was appearing today before Limerick District Court where he was served by gardaí with the book of evidence.
The 30 year-old, with an address at Highfield Lane, Quintan, Birmingham, was charged last week with the murder of Brian Fitzgerald at Brookhaven Walk, Mill Road, Corbally, Limerick, on November 29 2002.
Mr Fitzgerald, a father of two, was returning home from work at Doc's nightclub in the city, where he worked as head of security, when he was shot dead.
His widow Alice was in the gallery at Limerick District Court today as the man charged with her husband’s killing was sent forward for trial to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
Dressed in a long-sleeved cream shirt, the accused was flanked by plain clothes detectives and uniformed gardaí amid tight security.
He remained silent during the brief court sitting and nodded just once to Judge Tom O’Donnell to indicate that he understood the proceedings.
Gardaí told the court that the office of the DPP had consented that the accused should be sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court at the first available opportunity.
His solicitor, Leo Morrison, confirmed it was a legal aid matter and Judge O’Donnell assigned two counsel to the case.
Judge O’Donnell said he understood that no application for bail had been made to the High Court and he remanded the accused in custody to appear before the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
The current sitting of the Central Criminal Court runs until July 31, however it’s uncertain whether the case will be heard before that date.
James Martin Cahill is the only person to be charged, to date, in connection with the murder of 34 year-old Brian Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald’s killing led to one of the biggest ever murder investigations by gardaí in Limerick.
