Mark Heffernan acquitted over Limerick assault

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

Mark Heffernan was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of involvement in an assault on Dan Quilligan at 6 Larch Court, Limerick, on 14 September 2015. The proceedings were reported on 7 April 2017.

Heffernan had denied assaulting Quilligan and causing him harm.

The prosecution alleged that Heffernan was involved in the assault as the driver of an Audi parked outside the house. The court found that he was the driver, but concluded that the evidence was not of sufficient weight to convict him of involvement in the assault.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the evidence showed Heffernan's continued association with a number of the culprits before and after the assault. He also said the indictment was framed narrowly, so the court was not empowered to convict him.

The court had heard that a tracking device showed the Audi parked outside the house at the time of the assault. CCTV footage from that day showed Heffernan with Gerard Mackin. Mackin and Patrick Hayes had admitted the assault the previous month.

The court had heard that Quilligan was attacked when he arrived at the house, put in a chair and assaulted. His right shoe was removed, a nail gun was used and his left foot was nailed to the floor.