Keith O’Neill pleads not guilty to murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Keith O’Neill has pleaded not guilty to murdering John Wilson. The charge concerns an alleged killing at John Wilson’s home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, on 28 September 2012. The proceedings were reported on 8 May 2015.

Giving evidence on 7 May 2015, Leslie Herbert told Conor Devally, prosecuting, that he had been in the passenger seat of John Wilson’s car when another car pulled up. He said he jumped out and ran, had not seen anybody’s face in the other car and heard a couple of bangs.

Under cross-examination by Anthony Sammon, defending, Leslie Herbert confirmed that his statement to gardaí on 29 September 2012 described the passenger in the second car as “a tall man all in black”.

Garda Denis Sweetman described CCTV showing a dark vehicle at Cherry Orchard Crescent. He pointed out a figure emerging from the car in a dark jacket and smoke appearing on the screen.

Detective Garda Mark Collander said he examined a vehicle on 28 September 2012. He described a burnt-out Volkswagen Passat smelling strongly of petrol or accelerant, from which he recovered a 0.357 Ruger 100 revolver showing six discharged cylinders. The court also heard that a burnt striped garment and black gloves were recovered from the vehicle.

The jury were shown CCTV footage of a man identified as Keith O’Neill entering and leaving Borza Cafe on the Ballyfermot Road on 28 September 2012.