A round-up of other court news in brief
Jury in murder trial sent home for weekend
A jury at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder has been sent home for the weekend. The jury has so far been deliberating for approximately 11 hours.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (20), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin on August 25th, 2001.
It is the prosecution’s case that Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that had pulled up outside the Abrakebabra fast-food outlet at Crumlin shopping centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.
Yesterday, the jury asked to listen again to the evidence of Det Garda Christopher O’Connor and Det Sgt Séamus Quinn.
During the trial, Det Garda O’Connor said he found a palm mark on the exterior of Abrakebabra’s window, which he later matched to Rattigan.
Det Sgt Quinn said he took a swab from two inches below the palm mark. The swab was later confirmed as blood, DNA profiled and matched to a sample of Mr Gavin’s blood.
The jury will resume its deliberations on Monday.
Homeless man remanded
A 43-year-old homeless man arrested during an incident outside Government Buildings on Thursday has been remanded in custody for one week. The arrest was made after a protester threatened to set himself on fire. Edward Cunningham, of no fixed abode, was charged at Dublin District Court with producing a flask of petrol and a cigarette lighter during the course of a dispute at Upper Merrion Street, Dublin.
Judge Miriam Malone told Alice O’Reilly, defending, that the offence alleged was serious and she was remanding him in custody to Cloverhill Prison to appear next Friday.
Jury fails to agree in assault case
A High Court jury has failed to agree on a verdict in the case of a Co Donegal man who alleged he had been assaulted by gardaí while attending a family wedding.
James Patrick Gallagher (29), Quay Road, Dungloe, Co Donegal, brought the proceedings against the State alleging he was wrongfully and unlawfully assaulted and beaten by Garda Sgt Gerard Burke and Garda Patrick Crean early on August 13th, 2000, at Ostán na Rasann, Dungloe, after his cousin’s wedding.
After an absence of about 10 hours, the jury foreman told Mr Justice Éamon de Valera yesterday the jurors could not reach a verdict on which they all or a majority could agree. The judge discharged the jury and entered the case into the next court list.
Inquest on alleged assault adjourned
The Garda file into the death of a father of one who died on New Year’s Day, a number of days after an alleged assault, is at an advanced stage, an inquest at Dublin City’s Coroner’s Court heard yesterday, writes Georgina O’Halloran.
Keith Mills (22), Clandonagh Road, Donnycarney, Dublin, was taken to Beaumont Hospital after an alleged assault on December 22nd in Coolock. He died on New Year’s Day from complications from a head injury.
Insp Noel Eiffe of Coolock Garda station told coroner Dr Brian Farrell that inquiries were ongoing into his death and the file is at an advanced stage. He applied for a six- month adjournment of the inquest which Dr Farrell granted. He adjourned the inquest until July next.