‘No special status’ for Dundon trial witness

A Garda witness in the trial of two Limerick men accused of threatening to kill a mother and three of her children has denied that one of the complainants received “special status” after making the allegations.

Garda James Hourihan was addressing the trial of Wayne Dundon, aged 33, and John Dundon aged 29, who have denied multiple counts.

Wayne Dundon, of Lenihan Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, has pleaded not guilty to five counts relating to threatening to kill Alice Collins and her children, Gareth, Jimmy, and April, as well as two counts of obstructing the course of justice at addresses in Limerick City between Sept 2010 and Mar 2011.

John Dundon, with an address at Hyde Road, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill April Collins and making a threat to April to kill her mother Alice Collins at an address on Hyde Road on Apr 3 and 4, 2011.

On the third day of the trial, Garda Hourihan told Tom O’Connell SC, prosecuting, he met April and Alice Collins on Hyde Avenue on Apr 7, 2011.

He said April Collins told him her relationship with John Dundon’s incarcerated brother Gerard had ended acrimoniously and that Gerard had been moved to Portlaoise Prison.

Garda Hourihan said April Collins told him she and her mother had been threatened by John and Wayne Dundon, and said he believed they were both in genuine fear. Later that evening both women made statements of complaint at Henry St Garda Station in Limerick.

Under cross-examination by counsel for John Dundon, Brian McCartney QC, Garda Hourihan said no special status had been afforded April Collins after she made the allegations against John Dundon.

When it was put to him that he had become April Collins’ “protector” after prosecuting her for witness intimidation in May 2010, Garda Hourihan said Alice and April Collins made statements to gardaí because they believed serious threats had been made against them and their family.

He told Mr McCartney his contact with the Collins had absolutely no bearing on the outcome the case against April Collins, who was given a three-year suspended sentence for witness intimidation in May 2011.

Garda Hourihan denied his role had become obscured and said it was not correct that April Collins was being “used” by him for ulterior motives.

The trial continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice Paul Butler.