Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused involved in criminality telling jury a 'tissue of lies', prosecution say

Date
2024-11-28

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the State's counsel, Bernard Condon SC, accused Cailean Crawford, 28, of fabricating a story about loaning a van and a phone to Charles McClean in connection with the murder of Thomas McCarthy on 27 July 2020. Condon argued that Crawford's testimony was full of lies and that the evidence showed a coordinated plan involving multiple vehicles and "dry runs" before the execution. He described the alleged gunman's movements and the use of burner phones, and claimed that Crawford's alibi of his grandmother's house was preposterous. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC countered that the presumption of innocence was paramount, noting that Crawford's criminality did not prove murder and that the evidence did not conclusively link him to the shooting. The jury was instructed to consider the prosecution's case of a group plan and the alleged seven shots that killed McCarthy in his mother's hallway. Cailean Crawford pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused involved in criminality telling jury a 'tissue of lies', prosecution say. Charges or matters: the murder of Thomas McCarthy on July 27, 2020 at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 27, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-11-28 Publication

Why: Beginning his charge to the jury, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that Mr Crawford was before the court because of decisions he had made. CNI source report