The man accused of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin told gardai he was only a junkie who needed money and had been "promised a few bob" for his part in the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday. Det Sgt Jerry Healy told the court Mr Paul "Hippo" Ward admitted getting rid of the gun used in the murder when he was interviewed at Lucan Garda station on October 18th, 1996. But defence counsel Mr Barry White SC claimed the alleged admissions were "classic planted verbals". The defence is challenging the alleged verbal admissions which Mr Ward did not sign.
Mr Ward (34), of Crumlin, Dublin, with an address at Walkinstown Road, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (36), at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Co Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
The prosecution has claimed Mr Ward was a member of the gang that planned and carried out the killing and that he disposed of the murder weapon and the motorcycle afterwards.
Det Sgt Healy said that during an interview at Lucan Garda station on October 18th, 1996, Mr Ward told him initially he had been questioned over and over "about the poxy murder" and added that he knew nothing about it. It was then put to him that he had told gardai he got rid of the gun and he replied: "Yeah, that's it. After the shooting. I had nothing to do with that f***ing shooting."
Mr Ward then said: "I am only a f***ing junkie. I needed money. I was promised a few bob. When this was being planned I was asked to let [two named men who cannot be identified by order of the court] into my house and to get rid of that f***ing gun when they left."
Asked if he had done what he was asked he replied: "I told you that I did." When Mr Ward was asked if he had planned the murder, he said when the two named men were planning the murder they asked him could they come back to his house and get rid of the gun. Asked to elaborate Ward replied: "I am not saying any more, that's it. Anyway I am not that big a f***ing eejit."
Gardai said Mr Ward told them to leave his girlfriend, Ms Vanessa Meehan, out of it, that she was not involved. "Her head is done in over this." Mr Ward then met his mother in the Garda station and when he returned to the interview room he seemed "somewhat agitated". He said to the detectives: "Some of youse f***ers told me ma I was on gear. What was that for?"
Mr Ward was asked by gardai to tell them where the gun used in the murder was so that nobody else would be shot with it and he replied: "Nobody will ever be killed by that gun where it is now." Asked where the gun came from, Mr Ward replied: "You know well where it came from, don't be acting the bollix. It was with the guns and ammunition youse got in the graveyard."
Mr Ward then said: "That's it, I'm finished. I am saying no more." When asked to make a statement Mr Ward said: "Get wise. You know I won't do that." Mr Ward was asked if the notes of the interview were correct and he replied: "That's it", but refused to sign the notes.
Cross-examined by Mr White, Det Sgt Healy denied the alleged verbal admissions made by Mr Ward fitted into what Charles Bowden, who is under the Witness Protection Programme, had told gardai. Det Sgt Healy said: "I believed he was involved in getting rid of the bike and the gun." He agreed that part of his belief came from an earlier statement made by Bowden to the gardai, but denied Bowden's statement was the "only hard evidence" against Mr Ward.
Mr White suggested to Det Sgt Healy the admissions were "in fact classic planted verbals" and the witness replied: "I reject that proposition."
Insp Padraig Kennedy said he interviewed Ms Meehan at Ballyfermot Garda station on October 17th, 1996. He said Ms Meehan requested to see Mr Ward and he acceded to the request. She met Mr Ward at Lucan Garda station at 10.07 p.m. that night. The trial continues today.