Courts / Dublin / Report

Men go on trial for murder of man left comatose for a year

Date
2022-06-20

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Swords

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court has opened a trial for two Dublin men, a 33‑year‑old referred to as 'AB' and Bernard Fogarty, 34, charged with the murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged killing took place on 17 January 2020 at Madigan's Yard, Swords, where Wolverson was shot several times and later died on 21 February 2021 after a year in a comatose state. The men were arrested minutes after the incident and were initially charged with attempted murder, a charge upgraded to murder following Wolverson's death. They pleaded not guilty to murder, firearm possession and assault. The prosecution, represented by Paul Greene SC, presented a circumstantial case, citing evidence such as a burned Citroën C4, petrol residue on the accused, and recovered Zip fire logs. The trial, presided over by Judges Michael MacGrath, Cormac Dunne and Gerard Griffin, is expected to last six weeks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Men go on trial for murder of man left comatose for a year. Charges or matters: murder and also denied the possession of a firearm and of .38/.357 calibre bullets and assault causing harm to another male, Gerard Wildman, on January 17, 2020 at the yard; murder; possession of a firearm; possession of .38/.357 calibre bullets; assault causing harm. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 17, 2020 Incident
February 21, 2021 Incident
2022-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Bernard Fogarty

Accused

Charges: murder; possession of a firearm; possession of .38/.357 calibre bullets; assault causing harm (Alleged Or Contested)

Unnamed 33-year-old

Accused

Charges: murder and also denied the possession of a firearm and of .38/.357 calibre bullets and assault causing harm to another male, Gerard Wildman, on January 17, 2020 at the yard (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty