Man on murder charge over pub shooting

Following the shooting dead of a man in the Green Lizard pub in Dublin two weeks ago, a man appeared in court yesterday charged with murder.

Bernard Dempsey (47), of Golden Lane, Dublin, appeared before Judge John Coughlan at Kilmainham District Court.

He was charged with murdering Jimmy Curran (42), on April 3rd.

Mr Curran, a champion kick-boxer, was shot in the head as he sat drinking in the Green Lizard pub on Francis Street on the night of Sunday, April 3rd.

The dead man was originally from the south inner city, but had been living with his partner and child in Santry in recent years.

Mr Dempsey was arrested at 12.30pm on Saturday on Meath Street in the south inner city.

He was taken to Kevin Street Garda station, where he was detained for questioning under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Det Insp Gabriel O'Gara told the court he arrested the accused at Kevin Street Garda station at 12.01pm yesterday. When he put the charges to the accused, he replied: "Not guilty."

Mr Dempsey, a single man, was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison. He will appear before Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

A group of his supporters gathered outside Kilmainham courthouse yesterday, and cheered him as he was taken to and from the court.

Some of the group tried to prevent photographers and television cameramen from taking images of the accused as he was taken to Cloverhill Prison after the brief 2pm hearing.

Before Mr Dempsey's arrest on Saturday, gardaí had questioned eight people about the killing.

A file has been sent to the DPP in relation to some of these people.