Courts / Dublin / Report

Alan Harte's second murder trial collapses

Date
2021-04-29

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Alan Harte's second murder trial collapsed at the Central Criminal Court after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, dropping the charge. Harte, 40, had pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Anthony Rogers at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8, on November 6, 2016. The prosecution withdrew the case following rulings by Mr Justice Alex Owens that excluded evidence from two gardai who claimed to identify Harte on CCTV, as well as alleged comments made by Harte to gardai 24 days after the killing. The judge subsequently discharged the jury. Harte has a prior conviction for disposing of the body of Peter Gunn at Dunsoghly Lane. In 2014, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Harte to six years' imprisonment for that offence and impeding the investigation, with the final three years suspended. An appeal by the DPP to increase this sentence was later rejected by the Court of Appeal. In that earlier matter, Kastriot Boza was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, a sentence later reduced by two years by the Court of Appeal. Harte had previously been acquitted of the murder of Mr Gunn by a unanimous jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Alan Harte's second murder trial collapses. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Rogers at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8 on November 6, 2016; disposing of Mr Gunn's body at Dunsoghly Lane in the capital. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Acquitted

When:

November 6, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
January 4, 2009 Other
January 15th, 2009 Other
November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-04-29 Publication

Why: Ms Farrell explained that she asked the man, who was walking away from Robinson's Court, if he meant Maureen who lived upstairs in the flat complex. CNI source report

Case subjects

Alan Harte

Accused

Charges: the murder of Mr Rogers at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8 on November 6, 2016; disposing of Mr Gunn's body at Dunsoghly Lane in the capital (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; In 2014 Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Harte to six years imprisonment with the final three suspended for disposing of Mr Gunn's body and impeding the garda investigation. Boza (46), who was later put in the witness protection programme, was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final two suspended.