Courts / Limerick / Report

Murder accused told gardai that rival bikers threatened to burn his home down

Date
2017-07-20

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

A trial is ongoing before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and four women at the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick. Alan 'Cookie' McNamara (51), from Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick, is on trial for the alleged murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on Saturday June 20, 2015, at Mountfune. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and also to impeding his apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence. Robert Cusack (28), of Abington, Murroe, is also on trial and has pleaded not guilty to impeding Mr McNamara's apprehension. Alan McNamara, the accused, has not entered a plea. Sergeant Brian O'Connor and Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald testified that Mr McNamara told gardai that members of the Road Tramps motorcycle group had threatened to burn his home down with his family inside. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins of the ballistics section at Garda HQ testified that a 12-gauge shotgun cartridge found at the scene of the shooting was fired from a gun found in a wooded area behind Mr McNamara's home. The gun was sawn to a barrel length of 37cm, which is below the minimum legal length of 60cm for a shotgun in Ireland. The trial continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused told gardai that rival bikers threatened to burn his home down. Charges or matters: the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on Saturday June 20, 2015 at Mountfune; impeding Mr McNamara's apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Saturday June 20, 2015 Incident
June 21 2015 Incident
June 22 Other
2017-07-20 Publication

Case subjects

Alan McNamara

Accused

Charges: the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on Saturday June 20, 2015 at Mountfune; impeding Mr McNamara's apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Cookie' McNamara

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Robert Cusack

Defendant

Charges: impeding Mr McNamara's apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty