Paul Wells snr pleads not guilty to murder

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

Paul Wells snr pleaded not guilty to murdering Kenneth O’Brien. The alleged killing took place at his home in Barnamore Park, Finglas, on 15 or 16 January 2016. The proceedings were reported on 10 October 2018.

Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, opened the trial at the Central Criminal Court. He said the prosecution case was that Wells shot and murdered Mr O’Brien at the house and dismembered his body there.

Wells had admitted killing Mr O’Brien and dismembering his body. He told gardaí that Mr O’Brien had wanted to return to Australia and wanted him to murder his partner, Eimear Dunne, but that he had not wanted to do so.

Wells said Mr O’Brien arrived at his home on 15 January and returned to the subject of killing Ms Dunne. He said Mr O’Brien showed him a gun, they fought and the gun fell to the ground. Wells said Mr O’Brien reached for it, but he got to it first and fired several times. He said he then panicked and dismembered the remains.

The trial continued before Judge Paul McDermott and a jury.