Courts / Dublin / Report

Cigarette smoked by murder accused in garda station was sent to forensic lab, trial hears

Date
2017-11-28

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard that the butt of a cigarette smoked by Eamonn Cumberton, 30, in a garda station was seized and sent to a forensic science laboratory for analysis. Cumberton, who is accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence is contesting the legality of Cumberton's arrest. Evidence is being heard in a voir dire to determine its admissibility. The court noted that before being taken from the station, Cumberton smoked a cigarette in the back yard and discarded the butt, which Sergeant Michael Donnellan recovered along with a plastic cup from his cell. Both items were sent to the forensic lab for DNA analysis.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cigarette smoked by murder accused in garda station was sent to forensic lab, trial hears. Charges or matters: the murder of 35-year old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on April 25th 2016. Procedural stage: trial

When: