A murder trial witness under Garda protection yesterday denied making a series of statements implicating her former boyfriend in the killing of a Dublin man last year.
Ms Christine Mahon was giving evidence in the Central Criminal Court on the opening day of the trial of Mr Declan Curran (24), Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, for the murder of Mr William O'Regan (33) at his flat on Old Cabra Road Dublin, on June 12th, 2003. The accused denies the charge.
Ms Mahon, who was declared a hostile witness, told the jury that she has been under round the clock Garda protection since November last. She agreed with prosecuting counsel Mr Paul O'Higgins SC that she gave signed statements implicating Mr Curran in the killing but said she "made them up" because she was annoyed with him.
Mr O'Higgins suggested that what she told the gardaí was true but that she was now retracting out of fear. He read out four statements made between June 17th and October 17th, 2003. On October 17th Ms Mahon allegedly told gardaí that three days before the killing the accused had shown her some bullets. He said Willie O'Regan's "name was on them".
"He took them out of his pocket, they were small gold bullets," the statement read. However, in evidence yesterday Ms Mahon said her statement was "all lies". She was annoyed at the accused because, she said, "Deckie [the accused] was using me", so she made it up.
The witness said she signed the statements but claimed she did so to get out of the Garda station.
The mother of two told counsel she was on heroin and the heroin substitute methadone.
In another portion of the statement she allegedly told gardaí she knew she was giving the accused an alibi around the time of the killing and claimed he had asked her to cover him.
"I knew Deckie was going to shoot Willie O'Regan but I didn't think he was going to kill him," the statement read.
"Did you say that?" counsel asked.
"No," Ms Mahon replied.
Counsel then put it to the witness that, as she left the court during a short adjournment, she passed her brother and said "I'm doing it right, aren't I?"
The witness denied this and said she and her brother just went outside for a cigarette.
"The reason you're giving your evidence the way that you are is you've been told you'd better not swear up to what you told the gardaí truthfully."
"That's not true," the witness replied.
"Haven't you had a bad time since you told the gardaí? You've been terrified ever since by the fact you said it," Mr O'Higgins continued.
Counsel further suggested that the accused had threatened her that if she opened her mouth "the same would happen to her".
The court heard that William O'Regan was shot in the head and was left with his left hand hanging off after two men wearing balaclavas burst into his flat on June 10th, 2003.
He was pronounced dead two days later. The court also heard there was "bad blood" between Mr Curran and Mr O'Regan. The two men had been involved in a fight a fortnight before the killing.
The trial continues today.