Silent witness in Keane trial jailed for contempt

A MAN who refused to answer questions at a collapsed murder trial which outraged the nation was jailed yesterday for six months for contempt of court.

David Murphy, aged 24, of Lee Estate, Island Road, was a State witness at the trial of Liam Keane in 2003.

Keane was charged with the murder of shop worker, Eric Leamy, aged 19, at St Mary’s Park in 2001.

Keane, 24, strutted from the Central Criminal Court on November 3, 2003 when the trial collapsed after six State witnesses refused to back up statements given to gardaí when they went into the witness box.

Keane caused outrage when he laughed and gave two finger signs to photographers outside the court.

Mr Justice Paul Carney referring to the collective amnesia of State witnesses, said he had never encountered ‘the likes of what happened’ in the Keane case.

One of the witnesses who was prosecuted for refusing to give evidence told Limerick Circuit Court of intimidation against her family prior to the Keane trial in order to get her to withdraw a statement in which she recalled seeing Keane with a knife in his hand moments before Eric Leamy was stabbed to death.

Judge Carroll Moran said that at an earlier hearing he had indicated to Murphy that he would impose a community service order of 200 hours on the accused for contempt of court at the Eric Leamy trial when he refused to answer questions.

When the case was called, Murphy was not in court.

Judge Moran said that in light of Walsh’s non-appearance there was no point in disposing of the case by way of a community order and imposed a six-month jail sentence.

Meanwhile Liam Keane was brought before Limerick District Court yesterday.

He faces charges of possession of a Glock automatic pistol and ammunition at Corbally.

He was arrested after a car chase on May 4.

Keane who has an address at Singland Gardens, Ballysimon, was charged with driving a stolen car and driving without insurance on May 4 and further remanded in custody.