Traveller family member asked about 'telepathic' communication
The spokesman for a Traveller family at the centre of a triple attempted murder trial has been asked about his family’s ability to communicate telepathically.
Giving evidence in the Central Criminal Court today, Martin Gavin was asked by defence counsel Mr Martin Giblin SC whether his family could communicate without talking to each other.
Patrick McDonagh (aged 42) and Martin McDonagh (aged 31), of Dunsink Lane, Finglas Dublin are charged with the attempted murder of Robert Gavin, John Gavin and Patrick Gavin at St Dominic’s Park, Belcamp Lane, Coolock on New Year’s Day 2005.
Mr Justice Paul Carney and the jury of nine men and three women heard earlier the McDonagh and Gavin families had a difference relating to Martin Gavin’s damaged caravan.
Mr Giblin asked Mr Gavin how, without talking to each other, members of his family had given exactly the same evidence in court about a silver car a gun was fired from, which the prosecution allege was driven by Patrick McDonagh with Martin McDonagh allegedly in the passenger seat shooting.
John Gavin said in court today that the car’s license plate had 99MH in it, which he admitted under cross examination was incorrect.
Martin Gavin also told the court the license plate had 99MH in it. Garda photos showed it was 99MN.
"Do the Gavins have the skill of being able to communicate to each other without talking?" Mr Giblin asked.
"Excuse me, how can anybody communicate without talking?" Mr Gavin answered.
Mr Martin then asked if Mr Giblin was suggesting he was psychic.
"That’s I suppose what I was asking," Mr Giblin replied.
"Well, that’s a very stupid question," Mr Gavin said.
John Gavin’s wife Margaret told prosecuting counsel Mr Niall Durnin SC she had seen a silver car drive into the halting site that morning and two men talking to Martin Gavin.
The car drove off but returned about 10 to 15 minutes later, she said.
She told the court when the car returned she saw Martin (McDonagh) in the passenger seat holding a gun with his head and body out of the window of the car.
She ran and collected her children, pulling them to the floor of her caravan, she said.
Two shots went off and when she went outside she saw Patrick Gavin bleeding from the mouth and hand and Robert Gavin bleeding from the face.
Her husband had pellets stuck in his back, she said.
The trial continues tomorrow.
