Three people charged with helping killers escape

A JURY was yesterday sworn in at the Circuit Criminal Court, in Tralee, for the trial of three people who are alleged to have assisted in the escape of two brothers wanted then in connection with an unlawful killing in Killarney in April 2007.

The trial is expected to last several weeks and will involve a large number of witnesses, the court was told.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

Thomas O’Brien, aged 33, of 105 Pinewood Estate, Killarney, is charged with driving Gerard and Shane O’Riordan, who had unlawfully killed James Brazier, to Gleannamuckla, Taur, Newmarket, Co Cork, on April 15, 2007.

He is further charged with driving from Killarney with a change of clothes for the O’Riordan brothers; with removing bloodstains from vehicles and with driving from Taur to meet Lisa O’Sullivan, in Cork city, to go on to Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.

Lisa O’Sullivan, aged 28, of Flat C6, Belgrave Place, Wellington Road, Cork, is charged with telephoning her brother to organise accommodation for Gerard and Shane O’Riordan, in Co Tyrone, on April 15, 2007.

She is further charged with telephoning a woman, on behalf of the O’Riordans, and seeking a certain passport, birth certificate and cash.

Daniel O’Riordan, aged 45, of Gleannamuckla, Taur, is charged with admitting Gerard and Shane O’Riordan to his house at Gleannamuckla, on April 15, 2007.

He is further charged with permitting the brothers to remain at his dwelling and change their clothes.

Gerard and Shane O’Riordan, now aged 29 and 30, respectively, each received 14-year sentences at the Central Criminal Court, in July 2009, for the manslaughter of James Brazier, aged 30.

Prosecuting counsel Tom Rice told the court in Tralee, yesterday, that Mr Brazier was unlawfully killed by the brothers at 42 Pinewood Estate, Killarney, in the early hours of April 15, 2007.

He said the prosecution case would be that the accused assisted the escape of the brothers by moving them from Killarney to Newmarket and to Monaghan via Cork city.

He also said one of the accused, Thomas O’Brien, had broken his left arm in a domestic accident, not related to the case, and would require surgery under general anaesthetic.

Judge Carroll Moran sent home the jury and told them to return today.