Two men have been charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today with the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins in 2009.
Wayne Dundon (34), of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect and Nathan Killeen (22), of Hyde Road, Prospect were each charged with the murder of Mr Collins, a 35-year-old father of two at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre, Limerick on April 9th, 2009.
Mr Collins was shot dead at his business, the Coin Castle amusement complex at the Roxboro shopping centre in Limerick. His father Steve and other family members subsequently moved abroad under the Garda relocation programme.
Det Garda Paul Crowley gave evidence he met Dundon in the body of the courts building this morning and informed him that on the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions he was to be charged with the murder of Roy Collins.
Dete Garda Brian O’Connor, Roxboro Road, told the court that he met Killeen in the body of the courts building and informed him that on the directions of the DPP he was to be charged with the murder of Roy Collins.
Prosecution solicitor Michael O’Donovan told the court the DPP had signed a certificate on January 13th certifying that the ordinary courts were inadequate to deal with the administration of justice and that each man should be charged in the Special Criminal Court.
Dundon spoke only once during the 30 minute hearing when he replied “I am ” when asked by the court registrar if he was Wayne Dundon.
Killeen also replied “Yes” when asked by the registrar if he was Nathan Killeen.
After the two men were charged, Dundon’s counsel Shane O’Callaghan BL pointed out to the court that there had been a lot of media coverage of the case already. He said a public representative had been quoted on local radio in Limerick as congratulating gardaí on bringing Dundon to court. He asked for a direction from the court that the media should refrain from making any comment on the case.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three judge court with Judge John O’Hagan and Judge Flan Brennan, said that the court was “not inclined to lecture people.” The judge said it was an open court but clearly there should not be comments on the merits of an upcoming trial or case.
He told counsel: “You are fortunate in that there isn’t a jury.” He said the court was unaware of any statements by public representatives and the court would not make any direction to the media in the case.
Both men were remanded in custody to Portlaoise Prison until April 23rd next when the case will be mentioned again.
Wayne Dundon is currently serving a six-year sentence for making threats to members of a Limerick family in 2010 and Killeen is serving a five-year sentence for breaking into a house to extort money in 2010. Both men were jailed after trials at the non jury Special Criminal Court, which normally deals with terrorist offences.
In May 2010, James Dillon (26) pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Roy Collins and was jailed for life.