THE trial of Mr Brendan O'Donnell (21), from Co Clare but of no fixed abode, who has denied the murder of three people in 1994, was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court yesterday after the court was told the defendant was unwell.
Mr Justice Lavan granted a defence application for an adjournment until this morning. He sent the jury away just after 2.20 p.m. and told it to return at 11 a.m. today.
A witness, Mr Dermot Monaghan, had just begun his evidence after midday when Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, defending, asked permission from the judge for his solicitor, Mr Garret Sheehan, to approach the defendant. Moments earlier, Mr O'Donnell had held his hands to his ears and said something to a prison warder beside him. He also held his head in hishands. Mr Justice Lavan allowed Mr
Sheehan to consult with Mr O'Donnell, following which Mr MacEntee asked the judge to rise for a short time. Some 20 minutes later following a legal discussion the judge sent the jury to lunch.
When the court resumed after lunch at 2.15 pm., there was further legal discussion in the absence of the jury. Mr Justice Lavan called in the jury and told them he had been informed by Mr MacEntee that, on medical advice, his client was unwell and unable to proceed.
Mr O'Donnell has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms lmelda Riney (29), her son Liam (3), on a date unknown between April 28th and May 8th, 1994, and Father Joe Walsh (37), a former curate of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, between May 3rd and 8th, 1994, and to falsely imprisoning Father Walsh.
He has denied kidnapping Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary on May 7th, 1994, and hijacking vehicles driven by both persons.
He has also denied having a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on the same date.
In court yesterday Mr Paddy Monaghan, an uncle by marriage of Mr O'Donnell, said he (O'Donnell) had produced a gun at his house near Loughrea, Co Galway, on April 30th 1994 the day after Ms Imelda Riney and her son disappeared. The gun was not wrapped and Mr O'Donnell said he had the weapon to protect himself.
He said Mr O'Donnell turned up at his home on April 30th, 1994, and had a meal with the family. Mr Monaghan did not notice anything odd about his behaviour but he had become uneasy when they heard a Garda car.
Mr O'Donnell said he had stolen a red Ford Fiesta car which was parked at Scarriff and had burned it out in the forest and he thought the gardai might be looking for him. He said he had stayed in the car for a while and his fingerprints would have been on it.
Mr Monaghan said he was later alone with the defendant who said he had a gun outside. He asked Mr O'Donnell what he was doing with it and Mr O'Donnell said he would not use it to kill or hurt anyone but he had it for protection.
Later they drove to the home of Mrs Mary Quinn, the defendant's grandmother, near Eyrecourt, Mr Monaghan said. Mr O'Donnell had brought the gun in the car. He had it by his feet while he was sitting in the back. His mood seemed normal.
When they got to Mrs Quinn's, house, Mr O'Donnell put the gun round the back, the witness said. He said Mr O'Donnell began to laugh while they were having tea at Mrs Quinn's. There was nothing to laugh at at the time and he thought it was strange. It continued for about IS minutes.
He said Mr O'Donnell wanted to leave before Mrs Quinn's son came home. He last saw him about 9 p.m. on April 30th, 1994.
He agreed with Mr MacEntee that he was afraid to leave Mr O'Donnell at his home and that Mr O'Donnell was a bit uneasy.
He now knew lmelda and Liam Riney had disappeared the previous day, but he did not know that when Mr O'Donnell called to his home.
Mr John Monaghan said he was a son of Mr Paddy Monaghan. He said Mr O'Donnell called to their home about 3.30 or 4 p.m. on April 30th, 1994. He spoke of having burned out a Ford Fiesta.
Mr Monaghan said Mr O'Donnell had a gun which he later saw on the couch at their home. Shown a gun by Mr Kevin Haugh SC, prosecuting, he said it was exactly like it. Mr Monaghan said he went with his father and brother with Mr O'Donnell to Mrs Quinn's house later that evening. The gun was behind the driver's seat.
Alter tea at the Quinns, he, his brother and Mr O'Donnell went outside. He said Mr O'Donnell had the gun under a piece of polythene and he showed it to him. He said he noticed the letters BSA written on the gun.
He was shown a gun and said it looked exactly Iike the gun Mr O'Donnell had at their house.
Mr Monaghan said Mr O'Donnell decided to leave his grandmother's house and they walked down the road with him towards Meelick and away from Eyrecourt. Mr O'Donnell said there was a shed up the road, and he might stay there for the night. Mr O'Donnell had the gun and at one point asked him to carry it while he put on his jacket.
He said Mr O'Donnell seemed fairly calm but had appeared nervous earlier in the day when the Garda car passed their house. He told Mr MacEntee cars had passed them while they walked with Mr O'Donnell on the night of April 30th, 1994. It was not quite dark at that stage.
He said he had seen Mr O'Donnell laughing and grinning for about 15 minutes while they were having tea in Mrs Quinn's. That was strange, he said.