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Gunman in dissident Republican murder claims rights breach at trial

Summary

David Hunter, a Liverpool native convicted of murdering dissident Republican Michael Barr in 2016, appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Special Criminal Court erred in dismissing witness evidence regarding the height of the gunman and breached his privacy rights by admitting mobile phone data. Hunter, who was found guilty in September 2020, contended that a witness identified the assailant as six feet one or two, whereas Hunter is five feet ten, and that the DNA match on a ski mask was coincidental. The State countered that Hunter and co-accused Eamonn Cumberton were of the same height, and that DNA profiles from latex masks linked Hunter, Cumberton, and Christopher Slator to the getaway car. The State further argued that the phone evidence was lawfully obtained under legislation applicable at the time. The court noted that Hunter's involvement was fully proved by circumstantial evidence, including the DNA match and the abandoned vehicle. The matter was adjourned, with the judges reserving their judgment. Hunter remains one of three men convicted of the murder; Eamonn Cumberton was convicted in January 2018, and Christopher Slator was convicted in July 2022.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gunman in dissident Republican murder claims rights breach at trial. Charges or matters: murdering the Tyrone native, while in July 2022, Christopher Slator, of Carnlough Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, was also convicted. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty; Convicted

When:

• September 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 25, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 2016 Other
• January 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2022 Other
• 2025-05-29 Publication

Why: Michael Bowman SC said that the trial court had set out that Hunter was being convicted because someone dropped a mobile phone at the scene and the car used by the gunmen failed to burn out, meaning that latex masks were not destroyed by the fire. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report