Murder accused fears for his safety, court told

Fears were expressed in court yesterday for the safety of the man charged with the murder of Ennis hackney driver Liam Moloney.

At Ennis District Court yesterday, Anthony Kelly (52), of Emlagh na Muck, Emlagh More, Waterville, Co Kerry, appeared for the second time in court charged with the murder of Mr Moloney (56) at Portlecka, Ruan, Co Clare, on February 11th.

Solicitor for the accused, Pat O'Connor, told Judge Tom O'Donnell: "Mr Kelly has serious, genuine fears for his own safety if he is remanded in custody to Limerick prison".

Mr Kelly, a native of Ruan, has spent the past week in Cork prison having been formally charged with Mr Moloney's murder at Dingle District Court on February 25th.

Mr O'Connor said he accepted that prisoners in the Clare District Court area were automatically remanded in custody to Limerick Prison, but requested that Judge O'Donnell remand Mr Kelly in custody to Cork Prison.

Insp Tom Kennedy, of Ennis Garda station, said: "I have no knowledge over any fears Mr Kelly may have, and unless specific evidence can be given, I don't believe that the claims can have any great credibility."

Judge O'Donnell said: "If a defendant expresses genuine fears, I don't see it as a difficulty to remand him back to Cork Prison." Insp Kennedy said the State had no objection to Mr O'Connor's application.

Judge O'Donnell remanded Mr Kelly to Cork Prison to reappear before Ennis District Court on March 18th.