WAYNE Dundon and Nathan Killeen have been charged with the murder of Roy Collins in 2009 after the 34-year-old father was shot dead outside his family business at Roxboro Shopping Centre. The murder was described as a “direct attack” on the criminal justice system after a relative of Mr Collins testified against a senior member of the McCarthy Dundon gang.
At a sitting of the Special Criminal Court on Friday, Wayne Dundon (33) of Lenihan Avenue, was formerly charged by garda Paul Crowley in the confinds of the CCJ building in Dublin of the murder of Roy Collins.
Nathan Killeen (23), of Hyde Road, a known associate of Dundon, was also preferred with the same charge of murder by detective garda Brian O’Connor.
Both men were remanded in custody pending the completion of books of evidence and the case coming to trial before the same court.
The murder of Roy Collins led to new anti-gangland legislation which gave further powers to gardai and also paved the way for the introduction of new criminal offences surrounding membership of criminal gangs.
In May 2010 James Dillon (26) originally from the southside of Limerick was jailed for life for the murder of Roy Collins.
However, gardai remained steadfast in their pursuit of those who ordered the hit and the man who was seen in the getaway car with Mr Dillon after the shooting.
A Glock pistol was found in the grounds of a local rugby club last July and it is strongly believed that this was the weapon used in the murder. This was also close to where the Mercedes car used by Mr Collins’s killers was found abandoned and on fire on April 9, 2009.
The two men were brought before the Special Criminal Court, amid high security, after an application was made to have the two men produced from prison where they are serving sentences for other matters.
The DPP directed that the pair be charged before the special non jury criminal court and the three judges were told that pair are to apply for separate legal aid assignments.
Shane O’Callaghan, senior counsel for Dundon, addressed the court noting that he was concerned about certain media reports regarding his client.
A media blackout was not granted but the court said that any concerns ahead of the trial should be brought to the attention of the three judges.
