The first organised crime figure to give evidence in court after being granted State protection has told how hollowed-out dum-dum bullets were used in the murder of Veronica Guerin.
Charles Bowden (33), who has been granted immunity from prosecution in connection with Ms Guerin's murder, was giving evidence in the case against another Dublin man, Mr Eugene Holland, who faces drugs charges before the Special Criminal Court.
Armed gardai surrounded the Green Street Courthouse for yesterday's appearance of Bowden, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for drugs and whose family is living under permanent protection.
Bowden is the first alleged "accomplice witness" to give evidence in a criminal trial in this State. He is one of three men who are understood to be prepared to give evidence in court cases.
The court heard that Bowden has been given "unconditional and irrevocable" immunity by the Director of Public Prosecutions from prosecution for Ms Guerin's murder.
Bowden was accompanied to and from court by armed gardai and wore body armour. During his appearance in court yesterday, he said he had prepared the .357 Magnum revolver used to kill Ms Guerin.
Mr Holland denies possession of cannabis for the purposes of sale or supply within the State between October 1st, 1995, and October 6th, 1996.
Bowden, a former soldier, said 12 hollow pointed dum-dum bullets had been used to kill Ms Guerin on the Naas dual carriageway in June last year. He had heard three named men talking in a lock-up about shooting Ms Guerin. When he prepared the gun, he knew it was going to be used in the shooting. He said he was not asked to do anything else.
He said: "I had no knowledge that Veronica Guerin was going to be murdered. Shot or shot at, as had happened on a previous occasion. Intimidated, in other words. I knew that they had planned to shoot her. When I cleaned the gun, I knew that that was the gun they were going to use to shoot her."
The trial continues today.