A man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from investigations into the November 2012 killing of a Northern Irish prison officer. Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution opened its case by outlining that David Black, a 52-year-old prison officer, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on November 1st, 2012, whilst driving to Maghaberry prison. The court heard that a Toyota Camry used in the incident was later recovered burnt out in a ditch, with forensic evidence linking it to the killing. Prosecution counsel indicated that evidence will show the vehicle was registered to an address in Dublin and was transported to Carrigallen, County Leitrim, before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, continues.
James Lynch, aged 23, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assaulting taxi driver Edward Gallagher after Gallagher refused to take Lynch's wounded friend to hospital. The incident occurred on 14 February 2015 when Gallagher was driving through Dublin's city centre. Lynch and two other men demanded a hospital transfer; Gallagher declined, citing the risk of blood in his vehicle. A verbal altercation escalated into physical violence: Gallagher was struck, fell, and was kicked and kicked by the men. Passers‑by intervened and the assailants fled. Lynch was later charged with robbery on 24 January 2016 and possession of a knife on 12 July 2016. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Melanie Greally described the assault as "very vicious" and noted it caused Gallagher to leave his taxi‑driving job. The sentence was back‑dated to July 2016.
Michael Murray, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a woman, assaulting her, abducting her four‑year‑old son, threatening to kill them, and committing theft and false imprisonment in a Dublin apartment on 12–13 February 2010. He lured the victim by claiming an elderly woman inside needed help, bound and drugged her, and then took the child to a city centre square at night. Murray denied all charges, but a jury found him guilty on every count. He appealed the conviction on grounds including alleged inadmissible interviews, failure to disclose evidence, and lack of warning about social media influence. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 3 March 2017, dismissed all of Murray's arguments, upheld the conviction, and noted that the trial was not unsatisfactory or unsafe. The Director of Public Prosecutions will seek a review of his sentence for being "unduly lenient.".
In February 2017 the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in Dublin found former solicitor Eoin M Dee guilty of misconduct on three counts. The first count concerned the non‑payment of €1,691.24 in fees owed to senior counsel Aidan Doyle for a personal injury case involving an insurance company and a policy holder. The second count was the failure to respond to letters from the Law Society of Ireland in 2014 and 2015 about the unpaid fees. The third count was the failure to attend a meeting of the Law Society's complaints committee in July 2015. The tribunal noted that Mr Dee had practised as a solicitor from June 1998 until 31 January 2014 and that a High Court order in October 2016 had restricted him to practising only as an assistance solicitor.
A German national, Giovanni Obaseki, aged 23, had his seven‑year jail term for a "viscous" robbery of Francis Crossan in Dublin reduced on appeal. The original sentence, handed down by Judge Martin Nolan on 14 April 2016, had two years suspended. On 8 December 2016, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found the suspension insufficient and increased the suspended portion to three‑and‑a‑half years. Obaseki, who had pleaded guilty to the robbery and to two earlier attacks, was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The appeal was based on mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and his efforts to improve his life. The final sentence remained seven years imprisonment, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended.
Aaron Collins, 24, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for violent disorder and assault causing harm to Noel O'Rourke during a Luas incident on 11 December 2014. Collins admitted he swiped a bottle of beer at O'Rourke, striking his eye, and later smashed the bottle on the victim's head. The assault occurred on an outbound Luas red line between Smithfield and Museum stops. O'Rourke, 46, suffered a fractured eye socket, scalp and lip wounds. Collins pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had 36 prior convictions, none for violence, and was already serving an 18‑month sentence for a drug offence. The court noted Collins' claim of a misguided act of chivalry and his homelessness and alcohol use at the time. The case involved co‑accused Aoife Molloy and Martin O'Connor, who received partially suspended four‑year sentences. The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the escalation and Collins' involvement.
Aoife Molloy, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Noel O'Rourke on a Luas tram on 11 December 2014. She was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal reduced her jail term by six months, citing that her sentence should have been on par with that of her co‑accused, who received four years with two years suspended. The judge noted that the incident involved Molloy and a group of young people who were drinking on the tram, that Molloy struck O'Rourke twice with a bottle and then jabbed him in the lip. O'Rourke suffered a fractured jaw‑eye bone and required stitches. Molloy had seven prior convictions for road‑traffic offences and was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs at the time of the assault. The final sentence imposed was four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
Patrick Ryan, 38, was tried for robbing a tourist office in Dublin's city centre. He claimed the gun he used was a toy wrapped in black tape and that he was "laughed out of the place" by the workers. Ryan had a large drug debt owed to criminals for his crystal‑meth addiction. The debt holders drove him around the city and forced him to commit robberies to repay it. He pleaded guilty to robbery of Londis and attempted robbery of the Tourist Information Office on College Green on 21 September 2012, and to possession of an imitation firearm. He is already serving an eight‑year sentence for 16 robberies committed in a 12‑month period. Judge Melanie Greally added a five‑year sentence with two years suspended, to run concurrently with his existing term. Ryan's history includes 135 prior convictions, including false imprisonment, burglary and aggravated burglary.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Giovanni Obaseki, aged 23, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for a savage robbery that left victim Francis Crossan with a broken leg and a protruding bone. Obaseki, a German national, pleaded guilty to the robbery on North King Street on 8 September 2012, after a series of earlier assaults. The court noted that Obaseki had previously attacked a 60‑year‑old man with a wine bottle and had punched a man at Smithfield Square, for which he also pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan described the Crossan attack as the most serious, citing the victim's severe injuries and the repeated blows. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspended the last two years, and acknowledged Obaseki's efforts at rehabilitation, including completion of the Prison Service's Alternatives to Violence Programme. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the victim's ongoing physical trauma.
In a 2014 Luas incident, Aoife Molloy (24) and Martin O'Connor (25) assaulted Noel O'Rourke, a 46‑year‑old passenger, after a slip on the tram. Molloy kicked and pushed O'Rourke, then struck him three times on the head with a Budweiser bottle, which broke, and jabbed his lip. O'Connor hit O'Rourke twice with the bottle and punched him several times. O'Rourke suffered a fractured eye socket, scalp and lip wounds, and lasting scarring. Both defendants pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and possession of a bottle. Judge James O'Donohue sentenced each to four years, suspending two years for O'Connor and 18 months for Molloy, who must pay over €3,000 to the victim. The court noted their intoxication, remorse and lack of prior violent history. The case was identified through CCTV and DNA evidence. The defendants are no longer in a relationship. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a late‑night Luas incident on 11 December 2014, 24‑year‑old Aoife Molloy and 25‑year‑old Martin O'Connor, from South Circular Road and Elmdale Park respectively, assaulted Noel O'Rourke, a 46‑year‑old passenger. The pair claimed they "snapped" after O'Rourke retaliated when Molloy kicked him as he tried to stand after slipping. Molloy and O'Connor struck O'Rourke with a Budweiser bottle, smashing it and striking him three times on the head and once on the lip. O'Rourke suffered a fractured eye socket, scalp and lip wounds, and lasting scarring to the back of his head. CCTV and DNA from the bottles identified the attackers. Both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and production of a bottle. They have expressed remorse and requested community service or probation. The case was adjourned for sentencing.
Patrick Ryan, 37, a Dublin crystal‑meth addict, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for 16 robberies committed between January 2014 and January 2015. He admitted to stealing cash ranging from €136 to €1,400 from shops, petrol stations and businesses, as well as phones and cash from individuals. Ryan's crimes involved knives, syringes and an imitation firearm, and victims' ages ranged from young to 79‑year‑old. He had 129 prior convictions, including 12 robberies, 18 aggravated burglaries and two false imprisonment offences. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ryan's guilty pleas and "sad" background, imposed a 10‑year sentence with consecutive elements and suspended the final two years. Ryan claimed he had been drug‑free for two years before the offences and that his drug habit had driven the robberies. The court accepted his admissions and the evidence presented by Gardaí and the prosecution.
In a 2015 murder trial, Charlene O'Connor testified that Ciaran Moran, a 29‑year‑old homeless man, told her he had killed Gerard Donnelly, a homeless informant accused of touching children, to "teach him a lesson." O'Connor described meeting Moran at Heuston Station on 28 November 2013, where he showed her a bag containing a blow torch, hammer, cable ties and wire. She said he explained the items were for a man who had interfered with children. Moran allegedly mentioned two Germans were involved and that he had bought a bike and had €150. O'Connor also identified photographs of a toe and a face, which Moran claimed were proof for the Germans. The trial heard from Garda Peter Devane about Donnelly's large cash holdings and from Pathologist Marie Cassidy about Donnelly's fatal injuries, including a hammer and a pincers‑type tool found near his head. The case proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury. Ciaran Moran pleaded not guilty.
A 26‑year‑old systems analyst, Colum Hanlon, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jack Larkin on 15 November 2013 at Camden Street, Dublin. The unprovoked punch broke Larkin's nose, sinus bone and left eye socket. Hanlon, who claimed he was very drunk and had no recollection of the attack, received a three‑year suspended sentence from Judge Martin Nolan. The judge described the assault as a "spasm of misplaced jealousy" and noted that alcohol was not an excuse. Hanlon was ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation to Larkin and to raise an additional €5,000 within 18 months. Larkin suffered severe injuries, required surgery, and missed final year studies at St Patrick's Teacher Training College. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no prior convictions for Hanlon. The judge accepted his remorse and considered the incident a one‑off.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence from a retired detective sergeant regarding the 1997 murders of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin. Mark Nash, aged 42, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan on 6 and 7 March 1997. Detective Sergeant David Lynch testified about questioning another suspect, Martin Stafford, in relation to the killings. During cross-examination, the defence counsel raised questions about the adequacy of the investigation and whether relevant information about Stafford's movements had been properly pursued. The court also heard evidence concerning Nash's alleged voluntary disclosure to gardaí in Galway on 17 August 1997 regarding crimes committed in Dublin five months earlier. Justice Carroll Moran adjourned proceedings to address a legal issue that emerged during testimony, with the jury directed to return on Wednesday.
Seán FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, will exit bankruptcy in June after the High Court adjudicated him bankrupt in 2010 with debts of €147m and assets under €47m. The new insolvency laws cut the maximum bankruptcy period from 12 to three years, allowing automatic discharge once the official assignee confirms full cooperation. Mr FitzPatrick, aged 65 and residing in Greystones, Co Wicklow, was not present when the court granted an order to pay €1.6 million to the Revenue Commissioners, a preferential creditor, on an interim basis. The payment was directed by the official assignee, Mr Chris Lehane. FitzPatrick's 2010 statement of affairs listed debts mainly to financial institutions, assets in Ireland, Spain, the UK, France, Hungary, South Africa and the US, and interests in Nigerian oil and gas and the Quinlan Property group. Revenue also claimed over €3 million owed, part of which was appealed.
Vincent Banks, 46, of Dublin 7, was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of withholding information about the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, which occurred between 10 October and 20 December 2012. The court found that Banks' arrest on suspicion of IRA membership was unlawful because it lacked a warrant and the offence of membership is continuous. Banks was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 18 December 2012 and had been remanded on that count until after the withholding‑information trial. The court ruled that the unlawful arrest did not affect the withholding‑information charge, so the trial proceeded. Mr Michael Bowman BL informed the court that the membership case would continue, and a trial date was set for 17 November 2015, with Banks remanded on bail until then. Vincent Banks pleaded not guilty.
Vincent Banks, 46, of Dublin 7, was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of withholding information about the murder of prison officer David Black, 52, who was shot dead on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on 1 November 2012. The prosecution alleged that Banks had bought a Toyota Camry, registered under a false name, and that the vehicle was used in the shooting. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, found that while the car was linked to the murder, there was no evidence that Banks knew it would be used in the killing. Consequently, the court concluded that the charge of withholding information could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and acquitted Banks. He remains on bail pending another charge of IRA membership. The case was presented as a dissident IRA murder. The court praised the police investigations on both sides of the border.
In a Dublin Special Criminal Court hearing, Vincent Banks, 46, pleaded not guilty to withholding information about the murder of prison officer David Black. The prosecution presented an Evening Herald newspaper dated 2 November 2012, found open to a story about Black's shooting, as evidence of "evidential significance." The paper was discovered in Banks' apartment during a search, alongside other newspapers. The prosecution argued that the newspaper's presence, open to the relevant article, suggested Banks' knowledge of the case. Banks' counsel, Michael P. O'Higgins, argued the newspaper was a thin thread, lacking proof of Banks' possession or fingerprints, and that other newspapers were also found. The court heard that Black, 52, was shot on the M1 near Lurgan on 1 November 2012, and that the murder was allegedly committed by occupants of a Toyota Camry registered 94 D 50997, purchased by Banks.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that Vincent Banks' arrest on suspicion of IRA membership, linked to the murder of prison officer David Black, was unlawful. Banks, 46, pleaded not guilty to withholding information about the murder. A voir dire examined the legality of his detention, the arrest, and searches of his Smithfield apartment and a Finglas address. The defence argued that Banks' December 18, 2012 arrest for IRA membership violated Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, as he had been released without charge in September 2012 and could not be re‑arrested without a warrant. The court accepted that the arrest was unlawful but did not find it tainted the withholding‑information charge. It upheld the legality of his detention and the searches.
The Special Criminal Court is set to rule next week on legal questions about the detention and arrest of Vincent Banks, 44, who is charged with withholding information in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black. The trial has entered a voir dire to decide on the legality of Banks' detention, the searches of his Smithfield apartment and a Finglas address, and the admissibility of forensic samples and phone records. The prosecution alleges that Black, a 52‑year‑old guard at Maghaberry jail, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on 1 November 2012 by occupants of a Toyota Camry registered 94 D 50997, a vehicle purchased by Banks. Evidence presented last week linked bullet casings from the scene to the same weapon as those found in the burnt‑out Camry. Vincent Banks pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a voir dire on legal matters concerning the detention and arrest of Vincent Banks, 44, who is charged with withholding information related to the murder of prison officer David Black. Banks, who lives in Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court considered the legality of obtaining forensic samples, searching Banks' apartment in Smithfield and an address in Finglas, and the acquisition of phone records. The prosecution alleges that Black, a 52‑year‑old officer at Maghaberry jail, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on 1 November 2012 by occupants of a Toyota Camry registered 94 D 50997, a vehicle purchased by Banks. Evidence was presented that bullet casings from the scene matched those from the Camry, which was found burnt‑out nearby.
In the Special Criminal Court, Vincent Banks, 44, of Smithfield Gate Apartments, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to a charge of withholding information related to the murder of prison officer David Black. The court held a voir dire to decide on legal matters concerning Banks' detention and arrest, the legality of forensic samples, searches of his apartment and a Finglas address, and the acquisition of phone records. The prosecution alleged that Black, 52, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on 1 November 2012 while driving to work at Maghaberry jail. They claim the fatal shots were fired from a Toyota Camry (registration 94 D 50997) bought by Banks, with bullet casings at the scene matching those from the vehicle. Banks is accused of failing to disclose information that could assist in apprehending or prosecuting the murderer between 10 October and 20 December 2012. The court will hear further arguments on these issues tomorrow before Judge Paul Butler.
Vincent Banks, aged 44 and resident in Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to withholding information relating to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that on 8 October 2012, gardaí observed two men travel from Carrigallen in Leitrim to Dublin as part of an ongoing operation into subversive and dissident activity. Detective Sergeant Ciaran Quigley testified he monitored the journey, whilst Detective Sergeant Bronagh Bergin observed Banks meeting the two men at a public house in Phibsborough. Photographs were taken of Banks in their company. David Black, aged 52 and employed at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim, was fatally shot on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on 1 November 2012. The prosecution case centres on the alleged purchase of a Toyota Camry, subsequently recovered burnt-out near the scene, with ballistic evidence linking it to the shooting. Banks faces the charge of failing to disclose information he knew might assist in prosecuting the murder between October and December 2012. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Vincent Banks, 44, of Dublin 7, continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler. Banks has pleaded not guilty to a charge of withholding information in relation to the murder of David Black. Prosecution counsel Paul Greene SC outlined the case that Black, a Maghaberry prison officer, was shot on November 1, 2012, by occupants of a Toyota Camry with Republic of Ireland registration 94 D 50997, which the prosecution alleges was purchased by Banks. Jonathan Greer, a witness from the Forensic Science Laboratory of Northern Ireland, testified that bullet casings recovered near the scene and from the burnt-out Toyota were fired from the same weapon. Greer confirmed that two casings from the road and three from the car were 7.62 x 39 mm calibre ammunition, consistent with an AKM assault rifle. Microscopic comparisons revealed gross matching marks indicating a single gun fired all the casings. A bullet recovered from Black's Audi was also consistent with this ammunition. The charge alleges that between October 10 and December 20, 2012, Banks failed to disclose information he knew might assist in securing the apprehension or conviction of another person for the murder. The trial is ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Vincent Banks, 44, of Dublin 7, continued before Mr Justice Paul Butler. Banks, who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of withholding information in relation to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, faces a separate charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. He remains remanded on the membership count, which will proceed immediately upon the judgement on the withholding information count. Evidence was heard from Leitrim County Councillor John McCartin, who stated he contacted gardai in 2012 after complaints about a car parked in a darkened area of Carrigallen. Cllr McCartin testified that he photographed the vehicle on his iPhone and later provided a DVD of backups to Detective Garda Bridget Buckley. Buckley confirmed she analysed the files and identified an image of a Toyota Camry taken on October 14, 2012. The prosecution alleges that the navy-coloured Toyota Camry, registered 94 D 50997, was used to shoot Black on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on November 1, 2012, and that Banks purchased the vehicle. The charge against Banks alleges he failed to disclose information that might assist in securing the apprehension or conviction of another person for the murder. The trial continues.
In the Dublin Special Criminal Court, Vincent Banks, 44, pleaded not guilty to withholding information about the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. The prosecution read witness statements under Section 21 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ryan McGrath, a front‑passenger on the M1 near Lurgan on 1 November 2012, described hearing a bang, seeing smoke and glass break, and observing a silver Nissan with windows down and a black Audi that veered off the motorway into a ditch. Paula McGraid, his partner, reported hearing a bang after being overtaken, seeing a long thin object protruding from a passenger window, which she identified as a rifle barrel, and witnessing the Nissan swerving onto the hard shoulder and crashing. The prosecution alleged that David Black, 52, was shot by occupants of a Republic of Ireland‑registered Toyota Camry (94 D 50997) as he drove to work.
PSNI officers have given evidence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin in the trial of a man charged with withholding information relating to the November 2012 murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. Vincent Banks (44), of Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Constables Gary Quinn and Jane Johnston testified about attending the scene on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on November 1, 2012, where a vehicle had come off the road. Witness accounts provided to officers described a shooting and a car believed to have a Sligo registration plate. Constable Catherine Mallon gave evidence of locating a burnt-out vehicle. The prosecution case centres on a Toyota Camry, registered in the Republic, used in Mr Black's killing. The State alleges Mr Banks purchased the vehicle. He also faces a separate charge of IRA membership. The trial before Justice Paul Butler continues.
A Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to withholding information relating to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black at the Special Criminal Court. Vincent Banks (44), of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, faces a charge of failing to disclose material information between October and December 2012. The prosecution opened its case before the non-jury court on Friday, with counsel outlining evidence that the Toyota Camry used in Mr Black's fatal shooting on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on 1 November 2012 was purchased by the accused. The vehicle was subsequently recovered burnt-out near Inglewood. The prosecution intends to present forensic evidence linking Mr Banks to the vehicle's registration and CCTV footage from a Tallaght retailer. The court heard the car was stored in Carrigallen, County Leitrim, prior to the murder. Mr Banks faces an additional charge of IRA membership on 18 December 2012. The trial continues before Justice Paul Butler on Tuesday.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Vincent Banks, 44, of Smithfield, Dublin, who pleaded not guilty to withholding information about the murder of prison officer David Black. The trial was set to begin this morning after a successful defence application to adjourn. Banks' counsel, Mr Micheál P. O'Higgins SC, explained that the defence was anxious to obtain PSNI investigation details and that a PSNI inspector had confirmed the disclosure request was under review. A detailed letter was sent to the inspector that morning. Mr O'Higgins requested the trial be postponed to allow the process to close out. The State's counsel, Mr Paul Greene SC, agreed, and Mr Justice Paul Butler adjourned the trial until tomorrow. Banks is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA, and remains remanded on that count. The murder of David Black, 52, occurred on 1 November 2012 when he was shot while driving to work near Lurgan. Dissident republicans claimed responsibility.
Vincent Banks, 44, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on a charge of withholding information that could assist in the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person for the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. The charge alleges that between 10 October and 20 December 2012, Banks failed to disclose such information to Gardai without reasonable excuse. He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, on 18 December 2012. Counsel for the State, Mr Paul Greene SC, requested the court to sever the indictment and proceed first with the withholding information charge, while remanding the membership count for immediate consideration after the judgment on the first charge. The trial was scheduled to begin today but was adjourned to Thursday, with the court allowing a short delay. The case involves the murder of David Black, a 52‑year‑old prison officer killed on 1 November 2013.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard that the PSNI will not disclose material relating to the murder of prison officer David Black because it could jeopardise the ongoing investigation. The court was told that defence lawyers for Vincent Banks, 44, are seeking disclosure of PSNI material for a trial of a Dublin man charged with withholding information about the murder. Banks is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army and with withholding information in relation to the murder of David Black. His counsel argued that the case against him was an allegation that he bought the Toyota car used in the killing and that nine of the first ten witnesses in the book of evidence are PSNI officers. The defence sought disclosure from the gardai of the PSNI material, claiming a real and serious risk of an unfair trial if the case went ahead without it.