The Limerick Blogger - latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Also just to let you know. In the early hours of this morning, the record for the month with the highest number of visitors was broken. Previously, May 2007 held the record at almost 20,200 unique visitors.

Our highest daily visit remains at May 24th, the day of the General Election.

As of 1300 hrs, the number for unique visitors in October stands at almost 20,400

For anyone that is interested, there are currently 15,005 comments on the site.

The final number for October was 20,708 unique visitors.

Cross examination of James Martin Cahill, the only man to be convicted in relation to the murder of Docs Nightclub Doorman, Brian Fitzgerald, will face cross-examination from today.

Yesterday, during forty minutes of evidence, Cahill outlined both his role and made allegations in relation to the roles the four accused played in the plot to murder Mr. Fitzgerald.

Legal representatives from each of the defendants, Gary Campion of Pineview Gardens, John and Desmond Dundon of Ballinacurra Weston and Anthony Kelly from Kilrush, County Clare will question Cahil from today.

It is expected that cross examination will take several days.

James Martin Cahill has gone under cross-examination from councel for both Gary Campion and Desmond Dundon.

Cahill told Conor Devally SC, Councel for Gary Campion that he was afraid that he would be killed in prison by either one of the officers or by “politicals.”

“I was in the cell in Portlaoise and they were talking above me. They were saying the murder victim didn’t get a chance.” he told the court.

Cahill told the court that he could hear screaming and voices in his head and it only stopped when he told the truth about all the things he had done in his life. These voices, he claimed, began while in solitary confinement whilst serving a five year prison term for being in possession of a machine gun which he claimed was going to be used in a murder in Dublin, for which he was being paid €50,000.

He began to see a psychologist in 2005. It was in November of the same year in which he began to make a series of detailed statements to Gardai in relation to the Fitzgerald murder. He had previously told the court that he was having flashbacks about the murder. “I could see it in pictures.”

He also told the court that Paddy “Dutchy” Holland and John Gilligan wanted his book of evidence in September 2005 so that they could give it to people in Limerick.

He said that he had never fired a gun before, however had fired a shotgun and a blank pistol during robberies.

Cross examination of Cahill is set to continue tomorrow.

A man who pleaded guilty to shooting Adare man Charlie Chawke at his public house, The Goat Inn on October 6th 2003, has made an unsuccessful attempt to challenge the court’s jurisdiction this morning.

Frank Ward, (51) Knockmore Avenue, Tallaught, claimed in court this morning that the court did not have the jurisdiction to sentence him because he was unlawfully arrested and tried with the charges. This is despite entering a guilty plea.

Ward, who was representing himself again this morning was advised by the judge to get legal representation even at this late stage, however he stated that the only thing legal representation could do for him now as to “plead a deprived childhood.”

Ward has been handed down a life sentence for robbing and shooting Charlie Chawke.

When he heard his fate he remarked to the judge “A pox on all your houses,” to which the judge replied, “I don’t blame you for that, but you are the author of your own misfortune.”

A man who threatened the parents of murdered Noel Crawford and who told them that he killed them has received four months in jail.

Stephen Fitzgerald (45) Island View Terrace, St. Mary’s Park pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening to kill or cause harm to John and Mary Crawford outside their home in O’Malley Park last july.

The court heard how the couple were awoken at 0200 hrs by Fitzgerald who was shouting for their other son Paul. He told Mr. Crawford “I’ll get you and your wif
When Mr. Crawford told him that they had had enough with their son being murdered the previous December, Fitzgerald replied, “I killed your son.”

Describing Fitzgerald’s behaviour as “deeply disturbing” and his comments “appalling” he sentenced Fitzgerald to four months in prison. He told him that he would have given him the full twelve month sentence were it not for his early guilty plea.

Defence solicitor for Fitzgerald, John Herbert said that his client had been very drunk at the time. He said that he was apologetic and had no quarrel with the Crawfords.

At 45 one would think they could control their drinking and what they do while drinking. I guess not everyone is as mature as they would like us to think.

Senior civil servant at the Department of Transport Julie O’Niell will receive an extra sixteen cent for every discommoded Shannon Heathrow passenger when her next pay rise is awarded to her next year.

Ms O’Niell last week admitted and apologised (to the minister) for not passing on information she was in possession of in June 14 in relation to the withdrawal of Shannon’s Heathrow slots by Aer Lingus.

Now she is to be rewarded with a €58,000 pay rise..

Before we get started, just to answer a question about what “Legal argument” is, which was asked in the comments on Thursday.

As I said, Friday (Day 5) was taken up with legal argument.

This is where representatives from both sides in the case discuss with the judge points of law, or evidence which has come to their attention recently with the judge.

It is in legal arguement where it is decided what can and cannot be presented to the jury. The defence may disagree with the prosecution presenting certain pieces of evidence and they will do what they can to take apart the prosecution’s case by restricting them as much as they can as to what they can present to the jury.

James Martin Cahil, the only man so far to be convicted in relation to the Fitzgerald murder, is giving evidence to the court today.

During his opening statement, councel for the prosecution, Dennis Vaughan Buckley told the jury that Cahill would say that he was contacted by Anthony Kelly (50) from Kilrush County Clare, and that he went to Dublin where a Mr. A hired him to carry out the murder of Brian Fitzgerald. He would earn €10,000 for the killing, it will be alleged.

From Live95fm.ie

It is alleged Anthony Kelly provided him with the gun, that Dessie Dundon pointed out the victim, John Dundon showed him where to wait for the bouncer and Gary Campion drove the motor bike used on the night.

In his evidence today, James Martin Cahill told the Central Criminal Court how he had waited in bushes for Brian Fitzgerald to return home from work.

He described how he ran across the road to Mr. Fitzgerald as he got out of his car and started shooting him.

Mr. Fitzgerald fell, but managed to get up again and made it to his front door, the court was told.

He told the court that he continued shooting until M. Fitzgerald fell again. It was at this point he walked up to him and shot him in the head, the court heard.

On completion of Cahill’s evidence, Justice Peter Charlton adjourned the case until tomorrow to allow transcripts of Cahill’s evidence to be given to both the defence and the prosecution.