Intensive daily security ritual maintained during trial

THE intensive security surrounding the trial made it clear that this was not an ordinary everyday case.

The daily security ritual began at Cork prison at about 9.30am each trial day. Prisoners Martin Wanden, Perry Wharrie and Joseph Daly were escorted by five prison officers to an Irish Prison Service van.

Up to four Garda motorcycle unit outriders and two Garda Síochána cars escorted the van from Rathmore Road through the streets of Cork city to the courthouse on Washington Street.

On many of the days this prison and Garda escort was overseen from the air by a Garda helicopter travelling with the convoy. Traffic delays were averted by the outriders whose blue lights and sirens carved a way through the city for the escort.

The prison van pulled up at the entrance to the holding cells on Cross Street, the side street on the eastern side of the courthouse, and the three prisoners were escorted into the building. Cross Street was cordoned off from all traffic as long as the trial was in progress.

The traditional style of Courtroom Two allowed for the prisoners to be brought up a spiral stairs into the dock of the court for the proceedings to start each day at 10.30am. As long as they were in the courtroom they were never in handcuffs and they were free to talk with their lawyers.

But security was also tight in and around the courtroom. Access for public and witnesses was through a security scanner — similar to those used in airports to detect metal objects. This area was manned at all times of the court case by at least two uniformed gardaí.

More uniformed gardaí tasked to maintain court security operated in the courtroom. Many other gardaí were present on a daily basis as witnesses or otherwise assisting in the prosecution case. Among these gardaí were armed members of the Emergency Response Unit although their firearms were never visible.

Lunch was provided for the prisoners in the holding cells in the usual way and within minutes of the court proceedings finishing each day at about 4.30pm the convoy was on its way back to Rathmore Road.