State witness Charles Bowden told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he believed the journalist Veronica Guerin was going to be shot at or threatened, but not murdered, when he loaded what was described as "the most powerful handgun in the world" for a professional hitman.
Bowden said: "As far as I was aware, and still to this day, the intention I thought they had was that they were going to frighten her. They were going to shoot at her to frighten her off." Bowden told the court he had been given a written assurance by the Department of Justice that he and his family would be relocated as part of the Witness Protection Programme, but he had been given no details of when or where.
It was the 13th day of the trial of Mr Brian Meehan (34), of no fixed address and formerly of Clifton Court, Dublin, and Stanaway Road, Crumlin, Dublin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (36) at the Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
Mr Meehan denies 16 other charges alleging that he unlawfully imported cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1994 and October 1996; that he unlawfully possessed cannabis resin for sale or supply; and that on or about October 3rd, 1996, at Unit 1B, Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin, he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.
He has also pleaded not guilty to having a Sten sub-machinegun, a silencer barrel, two magazines, a 9mm Agram machine pistol, five Walther semi-automatic pistols, four magazines and 1,057 rounds of assorted ammunition with intent to endanger life at Oldcourt Road, Tallaght, between November 10th, 1995, and October 3rd, 1996.
Cross-examined by Mr Mee han's counsel, Mr John McCrudden QC, Bowden said he did not believe Veronica Guerin was going to be murdered. Bowden agreed that the .357 Magnum revolver used in the murder was the most powerful handgun in the world and that he had loaded it, knowing the leader of the drugs gang of which he was a member, Mr A, was "outraged" at Ms Guerin. Bowden said he had no idea who had shot Ms Guerin on an earlier occasion or what type of gun was used.
He told Mr McCrudden he believed the Magnum he loaded was going to be used to "threaten or wound" Ms Guerin. The gang had other weapons available. Bowden denied he had chosen the Magnum. "The weapon was a weapon of choice. It wasn't my choice. The choice of the weapon had nothing to do with me," he said. But he told Mr McCrudden there was "always the possibility" Ms Guerin was going to be shot.
He said Mr Meehan had told him that his offer to deal with Ms Guerin had been rejected by the gang leader, and a professional hitman had been chosen instead. "Meehan had panicked on a previous occasion when carrying out a shooting, and this was the reason why another person was chosen, because he would be calm," he said.
Bowden agreed that the hitman, Mr E, was "an accomplished hitman" with several "hits" in Dublin under his belt. He denied he believed Ms Guerin was to be murdered. "The killing of a journalist is completely different to going and getting another criminal hit. This was a completely new departure," he added.
Bowden said that after going to the High Court in April he had received a written agreement from the Department of Justice about his future. The Department had said he and his family would be relocated and given new identities.
He had not been given an early release date and did not expect to get out of prison, where he is serving a six-year sentence for drugs and firearms offences, before his scheduled release date in September 2001.
Bowden said he had written to a Sunday World journalist, Paul Williams, about collaborating on a book and screenplay, and admitted that he wanted money from this. He had received letters from two journalists, Barry O'Kelly and Elio Malocco, the editor of Patrick magazine.
He had received the letter from Mr Malocco on Wednesday. Mr Malocco wanted to interview him for his magazine, but under the protocol agreed with the Department he could not communicate with the press. The letters had been handed to the Garda.
The trial resumes next Tuesday.