A LIMERICK man appeared before the Special Criminal Court yesterday charged with the murder of Shane Geoghegan four years ago.
John Dundon (29), with a last address at Hyde Road, Limerick, was charged yesterday morning with the murder of the 28-year-old Garryowen rugby player at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick, on November 9th, 2008.
Mr Geoghegan was shot five times. A postmortem showed he died from injuries to his head and trunk.
State solicitor Michael O’Donovan told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions had certified the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the administration of justice and submitted that the matter should be dealt with by the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
Det Garda Pádraig O’Dwyer of Roxboro Road Garda station told Mr O’Donovan he met John Dundon in the precincts of the court that morning and informed him he was to be charged with murder.
He said he explained the charge in ordinary language to Mr Dundon, who appeared before the court wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. Det Garda O’Dwyer said Mr Dundon made no reply.
Mr O’Donovan asked for the accused man to be remanded in custody for six weeks to facilitate the preparation of a book of evidence in the case.
Lawyers for Mr Dundon asked the court for legal aid in the matter, but said no statement of means had been prepared.
Presiding judge Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Judge William Hamill, said the court could not grant legal aid until a statement of means had been filed and would therefore deal with the application on the next occasion.
She remanded the accused man in custody to appear before the three-judge court again on October 2nd.
There was a heavy security presence in court for the brief hearing, with many investigating gardaí from Limerick having travelled to Dublin for the Special Criminal Court appearance.
Mr Dundon is the second person to be charged in connection with the killing.
Last February, Barry Doyle (26), from Portland Row, Dublin, was jailed for life for the murder.