A Dublin man facing criminal charges would have some witnesses shot if he were granted bail, a garda told the High Court yesterday. Det Garda Edward O'Grady was satisfied Mr Paul Meehan had threatened several witnesses and would interfere with them if granted bail.
While he was on duty on December 1st, protecting a witness in a Dublin hospital, he said, a phone call came through and was taken by the witness. The garda said the witness handed the phone to him and he heard a voice, which he was satisfied was the voice of Mr Meehan, say: "I'll have you shot."
In his evidence to the court, Mr Meehan denied making any threats and denied the charges against him.
After a lengthy bail application, Mr Justice O'Higgins refused bail to Mr Meehan (23), of Dunmore Park, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght. Mr Meehan faces charges on two counts of criminal damage on November 28th and one count of aggravated burglary on November 30th.
The judge said he had no hesitation in refusing the bail application and had "very little doubt" that Mr Meehan would interfere with witnesses.
He said he had found Mr Meehan to be a "cavalier and totally unreliable witness" whose evidence had been contradicted by five or six witnesses.