DRIMNAGH MURDER TRIAL:WHEN THE JURY at the murder trial of David Curran and Seán Keogh took their seats in courtroom 19 yesterday afternoon there was a tense silence.
The accused men were seated in the dock as far away from each other as possible. Both in trousers and pin-striped shirts, they did not look at each other as they waited. Uniformed gardaí stood nearby. Behind the rows of legal counsel and reporters, the family and friends of Keogh were gathered.
Curran had no family or friends in the courtroom.
Agnieszka Kalite, sister of Pawel Kalite, one of the murdered men, sat at the back of the court with Alan Kennedy, for whom the murdered men had worked at Ace Autobody. She had travelled from Poland for the verdict.
The jury had deliberated for almost six hours. On Wednesday, they’d been told a unanimous verdict would be required but after lunch yesterday Justice Liam McKechnie said a majority verdict would suffice. After that it took them less than an hour to decide.
The tired looking foreman handed the indictment paper to the court clerk and the verdict was read out. Curran was guilty of murdering Mr Kalite and his friend Marius Szwajkos. Keogh, who had pleaded guilty to assault, was not guilty of murder.
Relief spread across Keogh’s face. His family and friends cried and hugged each other. Curran was initially stunned and then put his head in his hands and began to cry. Ms Kalite wept quietly.
Mr Justice McKechnie told counsel for the prosecution, John O’Kelly SC, that he would take the victim impact statement this morning. He said he would sentence Keogh next week.
When the judge retired, Keogh was removed from the dock but Curran remained. Gardaí eventually removed him. Ms Kalite was brought out the side door of the court by gardaí, away from photographers at the front.
