A DETECTIVE has denied threatened a double murder suspect during questioning.
Cross examined yesterday by Mr Barry White SC, defendant Det Garda Aubrey Steedman denied he and another garda threatened and intimidated Francis McCann at Garda Station.
Mr McCann (36) was being questioned about the deaths of his wife, Ester, and a baby girl, Jessica, in a fire at the family home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, in 1992.
Det Garda Steedman denied hitting Mr McCann across the face with pictures of the victims or that Mr McCann was elbowed by the two gardai. He denied that no notes of the interview were taken at the time.
Sgt Patrick Flynn told Mr Kenneth Mills SC, prosecuting, that he was in charge at Tallaght Garda Station when Mr McCann was detained there. He saw Mr McCann sitting, shaking and not speaking on his bed in a cell on the evening of November 4th, 1992.
A doctor later spoke with Mr McCann but the defendant made no replies. The doctor had told him [Sgt Flynn] later that evening that he was satisfied Mr McCann was well looked after, was fit for detention and fit to be interviewed. He agreed that just minutes earlier the custody record had noted that Mr McCann was shocked and unable to speak.
Cross examined by Mr White, Sgt Flynn said he had allowed Mr McCann to continue being interviewed while awaiting a doctor's arrival on November 5th.
He agreed Mr McCann had sought and received medication previously that day and agreed he then sought further medication. He denied being directed to release Mr McCann at 1.15 p.m. on November 6th. He said he met Supt Pat King and the superintendent was concerned that Mr McCann be freed prior to 1.25 p.m. He said Supt King did not tell him he had spoken to the DPP's office prior to 1 p.m. or that Mr McCann had indicated he was agreeable to staying on after his detention period had expired.
The trial continues today.