Man found not guilty of murdering his friend five years ago

A Dublin man has been cleared of murdering his friend, but convicted of impeding the prosecution after dumping his body.

Peter Gunn (28), a father of two, was stabbed to death five years ago and his body was dumped in a water-filled trench near Dublin Airport.

Alan Harte (33), Clareville Grove, Glasnevin, had pleaded not guilty to murdering t Mr Gunn on January 4th, 2009, at a flat in Cabra Park.

However, while giving evidence at his Central Criminal Court trial this week, Harte admitted he had helped dispose of Mr Gunn’s body at Dunsoughly Lane, The Ward.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Harte in custody for sentencing on May 19th.

The trial heard Harte, Mr Gunn and two others had been drinking in a city pub that morning. They left in the early hours and went to the Cabra flat being house-sat by one of the men, Kastriot Boza.

Boza testified Harte stabbed Mr Gunn and then forced him to help dispose of the body. Boza was prosecuted for impeding the prosecution and was jailed for four years. Harte testified that it was Boza who had stabbed Mr Gunn and that he had forced Harte to help him dispose of the body.