Gardaí 'told accused that phone would link him to robbery'
A Meath resident accused of robbing more than €300,000 worth of tobacco products was told by gardaí that mobile phone traffic would link him to the armed robbery, a trial has heard.
Francis (Frank) Cunningham (aged 63), of Bog Road, Longwood in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of tobacco products worth €314,916 and the false imprisonment of Joseph O'Toole and Edward Postol in Blanchardstown on March 14, 2007.
He has also pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm or imitation firearm and unlawful use of a mechanically propelled vehicle on the same date in the same place.
Garda Ronan Doolan told Mr Paul Carroll BL, that during questioning at Blanchardstown Garda Station, Mr Cunningham was asked if he was worried about the phone traffic linking him to the movements of the stolen van on the day.
Garda Doolan said the phone traffic would link him to a man named Aaron O’Driscoll. Mr Cunningham said he didn’t know this man.
He told gardaí that he had committed no crime and broken no law and that he did not know anything about the robbery.
The trial continues before Judge Donagh McDonagh and a jury of six men and six women.
