The trial of a Belfast man accused of the capital murder of a garda 17 years ago was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court yesterday after the court was told that a crucial prosecution witness intended to change his testimony.
Mr Eamonn Leahy SC, prosecuting, applied for an adjournment and told the court that the witness, a former garda, had said his identification of Mr Sean Hughes in Paris in 1982 was incorrect.
Mr Sean "Bap" Hughes (40) of Albert Terrace, Belfast, was due to stand trial for the capital murder of Garda Patrick Reynolds at Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Co Dublin, on February 20th, 1982. He is also charged with the robbery of £62,100 and with receiving £53,000, and with possessing arms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Mr Leahy said a solicitor for the retired garda contacted the prosecution on Wednesday and said his client would say that his statement of evidence was "incorrect".
The former garda now contended that his identification of the defendant in France was incorrect and that the defendant had been pointed out to him by the French police.
Mr Justice Barr adjourned the case until April 29th.