Witness denies involvement in Dublin murder
The driver of a BMW car in which a 25-year-old man was shot in has denied accusations that he "deliberately drove him" to Cloverhill prison last year, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Mr Robbie O’Hanlon (aged 23) told the jury that defence barrister Mr John Phelan SC was "making accusations" against him.
"Watch your mouth," Mr O’Hanlon told the barrister. "This fella is making accusations against me. He’s also putting my life in danger", he told the court.
"Your putting ideas in people’s heads, you’re bleeding brain dead," Mr O’Hanlon said to the defence barrister.
Mr Brian Kenny, (aged 36) of Kilshane Cross, Finglas, Co Dublin and Mr Thomas Hinchon, (aged 25) of St. Ronan’s Close, Clondalkin have denied the murder of 25-year-old Dubliner Mr Jonathan O’Reilly of St Mark’s Gardens, Clondalkin on April 17, 2004.
Mr Kenny also pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill Mr Joseph O’Callaghan on April 17, 2004 at Finglas, Dublin.
Mr Kenny denies the possession of a firearm, a Berratta single automatic shot gun on May 10, 2004 at Michelstown Cottage, Kilshane Cross, Dublin.
He also pleaded not guilty to possession of ammunition which consisted of shot gun cartridges, on the same date. Mr Hinchon pleaded not guilty also to threatening to kill Mr Joseph O’Callaghan on April 17, 2004.
It is alleged by the State that the deceased man was shot outside Cloverhill prison as he sat in a BMW car. A motor cycle drew up beside the car and a number of shots were fired through the car glass and struck Jonathon O’Reilly mortally wounding him, the State alleges.
The driver of the BMW car from Arthur Griffith Park, Lucan, admitted under cross examination by Mr Phelan SC, that he had no insurance on the BMW car that Mr O’Reilly was shot in outside Cloverhill prison.
Mr Phelan suggested to the witness that the logical place to have parked his car was on the left hand side of Cloverhill road instead of parking it on the right leaving Mr O’Reilly, in the passenger seat, exposed on the road. Mr O’Hanlon told the defence barrister that he should get his facts right before saying: "You’re talking shit."
The defence barrister asked Mr O’Hanlon "why or how the assassin knew precisely which car and what time you would be at Cloverhill prison" to which the witness said he had "no idea whatsoever".
"You were the one that deliberately drove him" there, Mr Phelan SC suggested to the 23-year-old.
"Watch your mouth", the witnessed told the barrister. "This fella is making accusations against me. He’s also putting my life in danger. Your putting ideas in people’s heads, you’re bleeding brain dead", Mr O’Hanlon said to the defence barrister.
Mr Phelan went on to suggest to Mr O’Hanlon that it was strange that he ran towards his car when he heard gun shots alleging that it was for "show".
"You watch your mouth, I’m standing out of this box", Mr O’Hanlon said before leaving the witness box.
Mr O’Hanlon later returned to the witness box and under cross examination by Mr Brendan Nix SC agreed that "there was word going around" that revenge was being sought against four men involved in a serious assault in 1996.
Two of the men involved in the altercation outside the Glue Pot pub in Clondalkin have subsequently been shot dead including Mr O’Reilly, a third shot and wounded and a fourth run off the road, the court heard. Mr Patrick Hegarty, the jury heard, allegedly had a concrete block dropped on his head in this assault.
The 23-year-old was asked by Mr Nix SC why he had not told gardaí after the fatal shooting that the motorbike did a u turn at Wheatfield prison before stopping at the BMW car and firing at the deceased. Mr O’Hanlon told the defence barrister to "go f**k yourself, don’t be pointing your bleeding finger at me", he said, before telling the judge that he didn’t like the barrister’s attitude.
When asked by Mr Nix how he was able to buy a Volkswagon Golf for €13,000 cash and a BMW coupe for €6,250 cash when he didn’t work, Mr O’Hanlon said it was none of the barrister’s business and then continued to say "don’t f**king raise your voice at me, you f**king thick ya."
Mr Nix went on to ask Mr O’Hanlon that if the source of his income came from greyhounds, how much money did he make. Mr O’Hanlon told the court that he didn’t want to answer any questions that may incriminate him.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael Peart.
