Protested at having to wear handcuffs
EIGHT Limerick men have been sent forward to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court after the DPP returned his directions and the books of evidence relating to a myriad of charges including threatening to kill a man, demanding money with menaces and violent disorder.
Jimmy Collins was first to appear in court last Friday morning for the service of documents, and for an additional charged to be put against him.
Det Gda Senan O’Sullivan formally arrested, charged and cautioned Jimmy Collins with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan on October 17, 2009 at the Milk Market, Limerick, and with demanding money with menaces.
In reply to the charges, Det Gda O’Sullivan told the court that Collins said, “F**k off, you stitch-up c**ts, go f**k yourselves”.
Collins was then served with the book of evidence for the charge of demanding money with menaces at John Carew Park, Southill, on dates between January 29 and February 27, 2009.
The 47-year-old father verbally protested to the court on having to wear handcuffs for the duration of the sitting.
Collins, together with the other seven men, wore handcuffs for the duration of their court hearing as state solicitor Michael Murray, had told the court that the prisoners had been “far from co-operative”.
Judge O’Donnell said that he was “not comfortable” with the accused men wearing handcuffs in court, but that the “antics” of some during the hearing and on a previous court video link, had forced him to “accede to the wishes of the state”.
Jimmy Collins continued to protest during the hearing and said that “mass murderers wouldn’t be treated like this”.
The accused, from Crecora Avenue, Limerick, said that “this wouldn’t happen 100 years ago. We are treated like dogs and this court is a disgrace”.
Gareth Collins-Keogh of Hyde Avenue, the 27-year-old, son of Jimmy Collins, was also served with the additional charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan on the October date in question and with demanding money with menaces.
He is also charged with violent disorder on February 17 last, and when formally charged, replied; “F**k off you scumbag b*****d”.
Christopher McCarthy, aged 27, of Crecora Avenue, is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan on October 17, 2009 at the Milk Market and with demanding money with menaces.
He is also charged with demanding money with menaces from Mr Heffernan on dates between September and October 2008 at John Carew Park.
When brought to court, 24-year-old Ger Dundon of Hyde Avenue, sat in the dock and made a one fingered gesture to Judge Tom O’Donnell and when the district court judge was giving him the alibi warning after being served with the book of evidence, Dundon put his hands over his ears and twice shouted; “I’m not listening to the court”.
27-year-old Christopher McCormack of McNamara Terrace, Wolfe Tonne Street, and his 25-year-old brother, David, from Crecora Avenue, are both charged with violent disorder at Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen on February 17.
Both were served with the book of evidence relating to their charges by Det Sgt Brian Sugrue, and as David McCormack was remanded back in to custody, shouted to the court that he would “be out some day”.
He had earlier protested the directions of the DPP to send him for trial to the non jury Special Criminal Court by saying in court he “threatened no one,” and “I’m only charged with violent disorder, why am I being sent there”.
A district court summons was also dealt with by Judge O’Donnell relating to Christopher McCormack, who was alleged to be in possession of a mobile phone while in custody at Limerick Prison on June 1, 2009.
When charged by Garda John McCormack, the accused replied; “Ah will you go away and f**k yourself”.
With 32 previous convictions, Judge O’Donnell heard that during a search of the accused’s kit bag, officers found the phone concealed.
Solicitor John Devane represented his client and asked the court for leniency as his client “wasn’t going anywhere fast”, noting that Mr McCormack was on remand for the more serious charges.
Judge O’Donnell, before continuing with the returns for trial of all eight men to the Special Criminal Court, convicted and sentenced Christopher McCormack to four months in prison and backdated it to April 25 last when he was first taken into custody.
Continuing with the remainder of the eight men, Judge O’Donnell heard that 51-year-old Michael Bridgeman of Glenview, Ballyneety was charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan at John Carew Park on dates between January 29 and February 12 last, and was served with the book of evidence. A charge of demanding money with menaces will also be heard at the Special Criminal Court.
The youngest of the eight men, 19-year-old Patrick Pickford, Talbot Avenue, Prospect, was served with the book of evidence relating to the charge of demanding money with menaces.
All eight men received the alibi warning from the court where details of any alibis would be furnished to the gardai with in 14 days. They were also granted legal aid and afforded one counsel for a sitting of the Special Criminal Court.
Tight armed security surround the Merchants Quay Court house last Friday.
