Courts / Dublin / Report

Trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr resumes after seven months

Date
2021-07-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court resumed the non‑jury trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, aged 53, after a seven‑month adjournment. Mansfield is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, aged 53, between 1 January and 30 June 2015, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. Byrne, now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that Mansfield was "a couple of feet away" when he was taken prisoner by a gang that included former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy. The trial was adjourned in December to allow Mansfield's lawyers to view previously undisclosed CCTV footage. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy challenged redactions, while DPP counsel Shane Costelloe addressed each request. The case continues before Judges Owens, Ni Chulachain and Faughnan, with further evidence to be heard after the summer break. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr resumes after seven months. Charges or matters: conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 1, 2015 Other
June 30, 2015 Other
June 9, 2015 Other
June 12, 2015 Other
2021-07-26 Publication

Case subjects

Jim Mansfield Jnr

Accused

Charges: conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) The trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, who is accused of setting up a longtime employee to be taken prisoner by a gang, has resumed at the Special Criminal Court today after being adjourned for over seven months.