A man accused of murder was a senior figure in a gangland killing involving drugs, a jury in the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday. In the final summing-up, junior counsel for the prosecution, Mr Shane Murphy, told the jury there was "clear evidence of a common design" in the case, which "could be described as a gangland murder". The accused was "trying to shift the blame on to younger people" but he was "not a mule, a carrier or inferior. He was the boss", the jury heard.
Mr Joseph Delaney (54), formerly of La Rochelle, Naas, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Mark Dwyer (23) on or about December 14th, 1996. He has also pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Mr Dwyer and detaining him against his will at Foster Terrace, Ballybough, Dublin on December 14th, 1996.
The prosecution alleges Mr Dwyer was shot dead after being tortured for a number of hours in a revenge killing, after 40,000 ecstasy tablets, believed to have been part of a drugs haul organised by the accused, went missing.
Mr Murphy said Mr Delaney was guilty of the murder of Mr Dwyer and this was corroborated by telephone call evidence, witness statements and motive.
Counsel said witness evidence stated Mr Delaney made a telephone call to another man after the murder, saying "it was the hardest thing I had to do to leave Scott in the field".
That that evidence was "never dealt with" and that it had "not been denied" was a "clear indication of guilt", counsel said.
Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, defending, told the jury on a scale of one to 100, Mr Delaney had one of the most "inept criminal minds of all time".
Mr O'Carroll warned them against relying on witnesses who were accomplices to Scott Delaney, the accused's son who is currently serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of Mark Dwyer.
Mr O'Carroll asked the jury if Scott Delaney, who testified against his father in the trial, was the "sort of person who would inspire confidence" in telling the truth.
Counsel said the case for the prosecution "largely turns" on the evidence of Scott Delaney, who is seeking an appeal.
Mr Justice Quirke will give his charge to the jury of seven men and four women today.