Courts / Limerick / Report

Man spotted near scene of fatal shooting had "joined eyebrows" like murder accused, appeal court hears

Date
2015-03-11

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

In 2015 the Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Gary Campion, 31, who had been convicted of two murders in Limerick. Campion denied involvement in the 2002 killing of bouncer Brian Fitzgerald and the 2006 murder of Frank Ryan. He had received two life sentences, one in 2007 and another in 2009. The appeal argued that the trial for Fitzgerald's murder was flawed because the defence could not obtain a psychiatric examination of the key prosecution witness, James Martin Cahill. Cahill's medical notes suggested paranoia and hallucinations, and his testimony was said to be inconsistent. The defence claimed that without a proper medical assessment the trial was unfair. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted that Cahill's evidence was central but argued that other corroborating evidence, including a taxi driver's account and a witness describing Campion's "joined eyebrows", supported the conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man spotted near scene of fatal shooting had "joined eyebrows" like murder accused, appeal court hears. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

November 29 2002 Hearing Or Sentence
September 16 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
November 15 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
May 28 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-03-11 Publication

Why: Opening the hearing in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, counsel for Campion, Martin O'Rourke SC, said the trial for the murder of Mr Fitzgerald should not have been allowed to proceed because the defence were not in a position to have a key prosecution witness psychologically or psychiatrically examined. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Gary Campion

Appellant

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty in two separate Central Criminal Court trials and was given two life sentences, first by Mr Justice Peter Charleton on November 15 2007 and then by Mr Justice Paul Carney on May 28 2009.