Witness denies earlier claim that man had ordered killing

The cross-examination of the chief prosecution witness in the trial of four men accused of shooting a Limerick nightclub doorman…

The cross-examination of the chief prosecution witness in the trial of four men accused of shooting a Limerick nightclub doorman continued yesterday.

At one stage he denied that the man he had earlier claimed asked him to shoot Brian Fitzgerald had in fact approached him to commit the murder.

James Martin Cahill told Barry McDonnell QC, defending John Dundon, that the man, who is referred to only as Mr "A" for legal reasons, had not asked him to shoot 34-year-old Mr Fitzgerald. "He never asked me to do it"

Cahill is serving a life sentence for the murder of Brian Fitzgerald in November 2002.

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Gary Campion (24) of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick; John (27) and Desmond (23) Dundon both Ballinacurra, Weston, Co Limerick; and Clare businessman Anthony Kelly (50) with an address at Kilrush, all plead not guilty to murdering Mr Fitzgerald on November 29th, 2002, at Brookhaven Walk, Mill Road, Corbally, Limerick.

Cahill (33) agreed with Mr McDonnell that he had shared a cell with an individual and had a close association with another person who was "no friend of the Dundons".

He also agreed that there had been an allegation that he stalked a brother of John and Desmond Dundon but denied that he had been hired to kill him. He denied that he had been asked to shoot Mr Fitzgerald to "atone" for this.

Earlier yesterday he told Roger Sweetman SC, defending Desmond Dundon, that he had walked past Doc's nightclub with both Dundon brothers on Tuesday, November 26th, two days earlier than he had told gardaí and mentioned in earlier evidence.

He told Mr McDonnell that he was certain this had happened on the 26th and he had a gun with him on this occasion to shoot Mr Fitzgerald if the opportunity arose. However, Mr McDonnell told him earlier evidence from Mr Fitzgerald's widow proved that Mr Fitzgerald had not been working on the night of the 26th.

Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Anthony Kelly, asked Cahill about the gun he said he had on the 26th.

Cahill said he had got the gun from a man outside a garage beside a pub. It had a silencer on. He said he did not know about a meeting between Mr B (who cannot be named for legal reasons) and a man with whom Cahill had committed two jewellery store robberies.

He said he was not confusing this meeting with the meeting where he had been given the gun.

Cahill agreed with Mr McDonnell that he had told a psychologist that he was hoping for a new life in Australia through the witness protection scheme if he testified. Mr McDonnell said Cahill had also told the psychologist that he intended to negotiate for a shorter sentence.

Cahill admitted that he had abused at least six children in Ireland and the UK including one nine-month-old baby. He also said he had abused a dog and had fantasies about abusing a horse and having sex with his mother.

He told the jury he had always told the truth and that he had told gardaí earlier this year about abusing children and had named names.

The trial continues today before Mr Justice Peter Charleton and the jury of 12 men at the Central Criminal Court sitting at Cloverhill, Dublin.