Courts / Dublin / Report
State's case "riddled with doubts and unanswered questions", defence tell tiger kidnap trial
Summary
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defence barrister in a tiger kidnapping trial has submitted that the State's case against Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, is fundamentally flawed. Martin O'Rourke SC argued that gardaí investigating the matter had adopted a fixed view of his client and ignored a potentially fruitful line of inquiry into another man who could have participated in the offence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian lodger at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, and to robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton the same day. The defence contended that no identification parade was conducted and that up to twelve civilian witnesses with relevant descriptions were not called to give evidence. Mr O'Rourke submitted that the DNA evidence was equivocal and invited the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all counts.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: State's case "riddled with doubts and unanswered questions", defence tell tiger kidnap trial. Charges or matters: trespass and to false imprisonment of postmistress Ms Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014; robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 25, 2014 Incident
- 2018-12-05 Publication
Why: He suggested the gardaí had "ignored" a line of inquiry into another man who could have been involved in the raid, because of their fixed view of Mr Kelly. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: trespass and to false imprisonment of postmistress Ms Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014; robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr O'Rourke said this other man, who was not a suspect, had served a sentence in the 2000s for a drug crime.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Seabury Drive
- Kelly at Pearse Street Garda Station
- Pearse Street
Topics
Related court reports
- Judge rejects Gill's arguments against extradition for Robbie Lawlor murder
- Sligo man Barry Young wanted in NI for gangland murder of Robbie Lawlor
- Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches
- Robbie Lawlor murder accused argues UK trial would breach his rights
- Gill has CAB liability of €860k, bail application told
- Gill's lawyers served with documents covering 'every interaction' with State, court hears
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request