Warrant issued for man accused of withholding information on Ryan murder
A judge has today ordered the arrest of a man who has gone missing while waiting trial for withholding information from gardaí investigating the murder of Real IRA leader Alan Ryan.
Alan Ryan, a 32-year-old dissident republican, was shot in the body, legs and head, by a gunman on September 3 last.
The shooting happened near his home, at Grange Lodge Avenue, in Clongriffin, in north Dublin.
Robert Carroll (aged 27), from Ard Cluain, Clonee, Co Meath has been accused of withholding information which might have been of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person in connection with the murder.
The offence on conviction can carry a possible five-year jail sentence.
On October 25 last, he made no reply when he was charged under Section 9 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Mr Carroll, who has yet to be returned for trial to the Circuit Court, took up bail in his own bond of €6,000 of which he had to lodge €2,000.
Another person had also been approved to act as an independent surety in the amount of €10,000 with €3,000 of that sum to be lodged.
Mr Carroll did not turn up to a hearing at Dublin District Court last Friday when it was expected that he would be served with a book of evidence and an order made sending him forward for trial.
He had been given until today to come to the court but when his case was called he was not present and Judge Patrick McMahon issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
At the previous hearing, last Friday, defence solicitor Declan Fahy had then said “we are somewhat concerned as to why he is not here”.
The lawyer had said Mr Carroll had obeyed his bail terms and it is a case where gardaí were concerned for his safety.
Mr Fahy had also said “the only thing I am aware of is that his father has reported him missing to gardaí” but he had added that he was not aware when that had happened.
Earlier this month, Thomas Hunt (aged 39) from Canon Lillis Avenue, in Dublin city's north-side, who faces the same charge, was sent forward for trial, however no one has yet been charged with Alan Ryan's murder.
