The murder of Mr Kieran Keane in Limerick in January was a crime of "common design and joint enterprise" the trial of five accused men was told today.
The trial of the five Limerick men got underway amid tight security in Clover Hill courthouse in Dublin this morning. A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in yesterday after the trial had been transferred to Dublin from Limerick after difficulties empanelling a jury there.
When formally arraigned yesterday the five accused pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Keane, (36), Garryowen House, Greenhills Road, Garryowen, Limerick, at Drombana, Bushy Island, Co Limerick on January 29th last and to the false imprisonment of Mr Keane on the same date.
They also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Keane's nephew, Mr Owen Treacy of St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick on on the same date and the same location and to falsely imprisoning Mr Treacy.
The accused are: Mr Desmond Dundon (20) Hyde Road, Limerick; Mr David Stanners (31) Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Mr James McCarthy (24) Delmege Park, Moyross; Mr Christopher "Smokie" Costelloe (20) Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty Beg and Mr Anthony McCarthy (21) Fairgreen, Garryowen.
Senior counsel for the State, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley, outlined today what Mr Treacy would tell the court in evidence during the trial.
Mr Treacy will tell the trial that he and his uncle, Mr Keane, had a blanket put over them as they were driven for 25 minutes in the back of a van.
Mr Keane was taken out of the van and Mr Treacy saw Mr Stanners push him to the ground shoot him in the head. Mr Costello then stuck a knife in Owen Treacy's neck, Mr Buckley said summarising what Mr Treacy is expected to say in evidence.
Mr Stanners then took the knife and again stabbed Mr Treacy saying "this will be the last face you will see". At that stage Mr Treacy played dead. He heard Mr McCarthy say "come on, come on, he's dead" and they drove off.
Mr Treacy then made his way to a nearby house after checking if his uncle had been killed in the attack, Mr Buckley told the court.
Proceedings began with objections by the men's defence counsel about the media exposure the trial had been receiving.
Trial Judge Mr Justice Paul Carney said the decision to hold the trial in Cloverhill was for reasons of space.
