A Detective told a jury he recognised a businessman's voice on six mobile telephone calls inquiring about tyres and a bank draft at the centre of a fraud case.
Det Sgt Brendan Burke told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he had known the accused for 26 years when he heard the calls in 1994 and recognised his voice.
Mr Francis Cunningham (51), of Dunville Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to uttering a forged bank draft, valued £10,500, payable to Daly Tyres, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on March 31st, 1994, and to obtaining 54 tyres from Mr Eamonn Daly by false pretences on the same date. He also denies uttering a forged bank draft value £14,000 on April 2nd, 1994, and to attempting to obtain 54 truck tyres, value £12,300, from Mr Eamonn Daly by false pretences on the same date.
Det Sgt Burke told Mr Luan O Braonain, prosecuting, he heard Mr Cunningham tell a man, Mr Oran Christie, in a workshop at a house in Palmerstown, not to refer to him as "Frank" but to call him "Brian".
The jury has already heard that orders for the tyres purportedly came to Daly Tyres in the name of a company called Brian Harris Haulage Ltd, with an address at Church Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare. No such company operates from that address.
Det Insp John O'Mahony said he was with gardai at the Red Cow Inn on Naas Road on April 2nd, 1994, when a white van stopped. The driver was approached by a man he now knew to be Mr Christie, and after a conversation the van drove off following another with Mr Christie. Gardai followed the vans to an address at Wheatfield Road, Palmerstown.
Mr Christie said he remembered nothing about the events of April 2nd, 1994. Ms Deirdre Christie said that on the previous night Mr Cunningham called to her house and asked for a letter which was in the trousers of her son, Mr Oran Christie. She got it for him and the accused handed her another sealed envelope to give to Mr Christie.
Ms Michelle Morley said she was manageress of the Victoria Chinese Restaurant in Clondalkin in 1994. Mr Cunningham was there at about 6.30 p.m. on April 2nd, 1994, with another man. He became very anxious after receiving a particular call and left hurriedly.
The trial continues.