“AN APPALLING outburst,” is how Judge Tom O’Donnell described the conduct of 29-year-old John Dundon following inflammatory comments made to him and the gardai during a bail application heard this Wednesday.
The newly nominated Circuit Court Judge suspended proceedings after John Dundon became irate and agitated during evidence given by Garda Denise Moriarity in relation to two charges of threatening to kill two women on April 3 and 4 last. He was forcibly removed from the dock by several gardai.
In a packed courthouse, with a heavy armed garda presence, the incident happened as two brothers from one of Limerick’s most notorious criminal gangs appeared on charges relating to two separate incidents where a mother and her two children were threatened to be killed.
John Dundon, 80 Hyde Road, is charged with threatening to kill a mother and her daughter at the beginning of April following his release from prison, after serving a two year sentence for the possession of a stolen Mercedes in Dublin, in 2009.
His brother, 33-year-old Wayne Dundon, released from prison in March 2009 after serving seven years for threatening to kill Ryan Lee, the stepson of Steve Collins, is charged with threatening to kill a man, after gardai allege a threat was made to the man’s mother at her home on September, 30, 2010.
Neither man replied to the charges when formally put to them by gardai.
The court heard that terrified for their lives, the alleged injured parties made statements to gardai of the threats made by the Dundon brothers on two separate occasions.
Objecting to bail being granted to Wayne Dundon, the State noted the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for an escalation in violence should he be released. It was also said that Wayne Dundon had property interests in both the UK and Turkey.
It was countered by Shane O’Callaghan (BL) for Wayne Dundon that Dundon’s wife had recently given birth and the christening was scheduled for this Sunday.
However, Judge O’Donnell noted that he was satisfied with the application made by the State and remanded Wayne Dundon in custody for one week and adjourned the matter until April 20 next.
John Dundon was also remanded in custody for one week after Judge O’Donnell was forced to suspend the proceedings.
The decision of legal aid was reserved with a statement of means to be furnished to the court by both men at the next sitting.
Judge O’Donnell also ordered that the names of the alleged injured parties in all three charges not be published.
