Killers driven from scene of crime, court told

TWO brothers who killed a man in Killarney in April 2007 were driven away from the scene by another man to their uncle’s house near Newmarket, Co Cork, the Circuit Criminal Court heard in Tralee, yesterday.

Three people face eight charges of helping the brothers to evade arrest, on the occasion.

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, at a house in Pinewood Estate, Killarney.

Thomas O’Brien, aged 33, of 105 Pinewood Estate, is charged with driving the brothers from Killarney to Gleannamuckla, Taur, Newmarket, Co Cork, on April 15, 2007.

He is further charged with bringing a change of clothes from Killarney to the brothers; with removing bloodstains from his car and with driving the two to Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.

Lisa O’Sullivan, aged 28, of Flat C6, Belgrave Place, Wellington Road, Cork, is charged with telephoning her brother in Co Tyrone to organise accommodation for the pair. She is also charged with seeking a passport, birth certificate and cash.

Daniel O’Riordan, aged 45, is charged with allowing the brothers enter his home at Gleannamuckla, Newmarket, on April 15, 2007, allowing them to stay there and change their clothes.

The three accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Opening the case, Tom Rice, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Brazier was asleep in bed, at 42 Pinewood Estate, when he was attacked by Gerard and Shane O’Riordan. He sustained 12 stab wounds, inflicted by Shane O’Riordan.

Gardaí arrived at the scene soon after the attack, but the brothers had left. Mr Brazier was pronounced dead at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, at 5am.

Mr Rice said Thomas O’Brien was visited at his home by the brothers and he drove them from the scene to the home of their uncle, Daniel O’Riordan.

The brothers remained at their uncle’s house for the rest of the morning, but O’Brien returned to Killarney and brought them back a change of clothes. He also removed blood stains from the car.

O’Brien later drove the brothers to Cork city where they met O’Sullivan who phoned her brother living in Co Tyrone to arrange accommodation for them, he said. “The prosecution case is that the accused knew, or believed, Gerard and Shane O’Riordan were guilty of an unlawful killing at the time they did those acts.”

In a statement, Garda Sandra Kelly told of arriving at 42 Pinewood Estate, at 2.30am, on the night of the killing. She could see blood on the hallway wall and Mr Brazier was lying face downwards on a bedroom floor. He was bleeding heavily and a woman was holding a towel to his wounds, the garda added.

The trial continues before Judge Carroll Moran.