Firearms trial: Accused did not pay me for car, witness says
A witness in a firearms trial today told the jury that it was not the accused who paid him for a second-hand car later linked to the murder of two young men.
Mr Wayne Whelan was giving evidence in the trial of Mr Mark Desmond who is accused of unlawful possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.
Questioned by Mr Patrick Gageby SC prosecuting, the witness said that in early December 1999 he was selling a three year old black Fiat Punto for £5,000 (punts). The accused arrived down at Mr Whelan’s accompanied by his cousin, Mr Jonathon Desmond.
The witness agreed with Mr Gageby that the car was to be registered to Jonathon Desmond. "I don’t know what reason it was put in Jonathon’s name," Mr Whelan added.
He told the Central Criminal Court that one or other promised to pay him "in a week or two". Jonathon Desmond subsequently paid over £4,700 (punts) in cash. The witness agreed with counsel that the car was not damaged when sold.
Mark Desmond, defending himself, put it to Mr Whelan that a previous witness, Ms Rachel Stephens had "falsely implicated" the Punto in the murders of Darren Carey and Patrick Murray whose bodies were recovered from the Grand Canal in January 2000.
The witness told the court that after the murders, the gardai questioned him as to who he sold the car to and who paid for it.
"Who gave you the money for the car?" Mark Desmond asked.
"Jonathon Desmond," the witness replied.
Re-examined by Mr Gageby the witness agreed that he was left £300 (punts) short of the asking price. Asked if he mentioned the 300 to Mark Desmond afterwards, the witness said he could not remember.
"Are you sure about that?" Mr Gageby enquired.
The witness said he could not recall.
"Do you want to think about that?" Mr Gageby asked.
"I said I can’t recall," he replied.
Asked if he was facing charges at that time, Mr Whelan told the court he was not.
Mark Desmond (aged 27) formerly of Lally Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin has pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of three shotguns, one long rifle and one 12-gauge shotgun cartridge with intent to endanger life at Lally Road between 1 October 1999 and 17 February 2000.
The trial before Mr Justice Liam McKechnie continues on Monday.
