Courts / Limerick / Report
Legal argument in nail gun assault trial
Summary
In the Special Criminal Court, Mark Heffernan (32) faced charges of assault and false imprisonment of Dan Quilligan on 14 September 2015. Heffernan pleaded not guilty. His counsel, Ronan Prendergast BL, argued that the prosecution's case was weakened by a lack of evidence linking Heffernan to the assault. He cited Quilligan's testimony that a man in the house warned "Leave the man alone, you're going to kill him," and claimed no evidence proved Heffernan was that man. Prendergast also urged the court to consider Tom Lillis's testimony that he saw Heffernan in the house that day, questioning its admissibility. The court adjourned the hearing to Friday for a decision on these legal submissions. The trial remains at the joint enterprise stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Legal argument in nail gun assault trial. Charges or matters: assaulting Mr Quilligan, causing him harm, at 6, Larch Court on September 14th, 2015. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- September 14th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-03-29 Publication
Why: He said that this was a "fatal deficiency" in the prosecution case, because common design "leaves open the reasonable possibility that if [Mr Heffernan] was there he was that man". Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting Mr Quilligan, causing him harm, at 6, Larch Court on September 14th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The trial was adjourned until Friday, when Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, will give a decision on the legal submissions.
Places mentioned
- The Special Criminal Court
Topics
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