Courts / Meath / Report
Businessman's memory 'riddled with problems', false imprisonment trial told
Summary
Two men have pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of falsely imprisoning a Mayo businessman at a location in County Louth in December 2017. Thomas McGuinness, aged 34, of Chestnut Court, Johnstown, Navan, County Meath, and William Twomey, aged 57, of Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, County Down, are accused of detaining the businessman without consent and demanding £50,000 with menaces. The prosecution alleges the victim was lured to Cornamucklagh under false pretences and attacked by a group of men. In closing submissions, defence counsel for Mr McGuinness argued the victim's identification evidence was unreliable, citing memory difficulties following the alleged assault and inadequate viewing conditions during the identification parade. A separate defendant, Anthony Finglas, aged 50, was previously jailed for four years and nine months after pleading guilty to demanding money with menaces in the same incident. Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the trial to 31 August and remanded both accused on bail.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Businessman's memory 'riddled with problems', false imprisonment trial told. Charges or matters: all charges at the Special Criminal Court. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 31 Adjournment
- 2021-05-28 Publication
Why: He added that, because "Barry" had told Mr McAndrew that he would be sending back the same driver, Mr McAndrew's identification of this driver as being the same driver of the Toledo was then "prejudiced" and "unreliable". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all charges at the Special Criminal Court (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A conviction on indictment for false imprisonment carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.; After hearing closing speeches from both the prosecution and defence, presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned matters to August 31 and remanded both accused on bail to that date.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- the room in Drogheda Garda Station
- Drogheda
- identification parade at Drogheda Garda Station
Topics
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