Courts / Dublin / Report

Mansfield accuser denies putting people in meetings 'willy nilly'

Date
2020-11-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

Martin Byrne, a witness in the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, has denied claims by the defence that he cannot keep his story consistent and that he puts people in and out of meetings 'willy nilly'. Byrne, who is now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that he was falsely imprisoned by a gang of seven men, including former INLA member Dessie O'Hare and former Republican paramilitary Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. The trial, which is in the sentence stage, continues before a three-judge court. Mansfield Jnr has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including conspiring to falsely imprison Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice. In April 2019, Dessie O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. In 2018, Declan 'Whacker' Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment for assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. The trial continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mansfield accuser denies putting people in meetings 'willy nilly'. Charges or matters: all charges; falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 9 Incident
January 2015 Other
May 2015 Other
January 1, 2015 Other
June 30, 2015 Other
June 9, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
June 12, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
June 9th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
2010 and 2015 Other
2020-11-11 Publication

Why: The witness said Mr Mansfield Jnr explained that O'Hare and Duffy were looking at his business with a third party in order to get properties back and that the accused wanted an update on his dealings with this third party. CNI source report

Case subjects

Former Republican

Defendant

Charges: all charges; falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: In April 2019, Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare, who was known as "The Border Fox", was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years imprisonment in 2018 after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015.