Courts / Dublin / Report
Appeal brought by Veronica Guerin murderer "an abuse of process", State tells court
Summary
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on Brian Meehan's appeal to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison after a 31‑day trial by the Special Criminal Court in July 1999. His appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. The new evidence concerns the identification parade of Russell Warren, the "admitted accomplice" and protected witness, who was not identified by Ms Marion Finnegan, a witness who saw someone on the steps of Naas courthouse on the day of the shooting. Meehan's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argues that this failure to identify Warren was unknown to the defence, the court and the prosecution, and therefore constitutes a new fact.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Appeal brought by Veronica Guerin murderer "an abuse of process", State tells court. Charges or matters: her murder 16 years ago and his appeal was rejected over nine years ago. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 1996 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-11-20 Publication
Why: Her failure to identify him on the line-up was unknown to the defence, unknown to the court and presumably, Mr Hartnett said, unknown to the prosecution because if they had known about it they would have been professionaly bound to put if before the court. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: her murder 16 years ago and his appeal was rejected over nine years ago (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Meehan (47), from Crumlin in Dublin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison having being convicted by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in July 1999 of the murder of Ms Guerin in June 1996 following a 31-day-trial.
Convicted Person
Charges: her murder 16 years ago and his appeal was rejected over nine years ago (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Meehan (47), from Crumlin in Dublin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison having being convicted by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in July 1999 of the murder of Ms Guerin in June 1996 following a 31-day-trial.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- Portlaoise
- Portlaoise prison
- Naas
- Naas courthouse
Topics
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