Courts / Dublin / Report

Gangland murder accused could be found guilty of lesser charge, judge directs

Date
2022-07-04

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt directed a jury that if they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 31‑year‑old Wayne Cooney murdered Jordan Davis, they could find him guilty of the lesser offence of impeding the murder investigation. The judge explained that Cooney was seen on CCTV at Belcamp Lane about 5.20 pm, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes after the shooting, retrieving a body warmer that the alleged shooter had left there. He noted that the shooter disposed of the body warmer in a 40‑second window when off‑camera, and Cooney's retrieval took almost the same time, suggesting he had knowledge of the item's location. Hunt said that if Cooney was not the shooter, he must have had information that led him to the laneway. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gangland murder accused could be found guilty of lesser charge, judge directs. Charges or matters: the murder of Jordan Davis (22) at a lane-way beside Our Lady of Immaculate National School in Darndale in Dublin on May 22 2019; possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and to possessing ammunition in circumstances that give rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have them for lawful purposes. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 22 2019 Incident
2022-07-04 Publication

Why: Counsel said there could have been a number of people who had a motive to murder Mr Davis and he questioned the credibility of a garda who said he could identify Mr Cooney as the cyclist circling Mr Davis before shooting him dead. CNI source report

Case subjects

Wayne Cooney

Defendant

Charges: the murder of Jordan Davis (22) at a lane-way beside Our Lady of Immaculate National School in Darndale in Dublin on May 22 2019; possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and to possessing ammunition in circumstances that give rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have them for lawful purposes (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty