Murder trial told deceased man was shot by gunman wearing a balaclava

An witness in a murder trial has described how the driver of a van, heading to a pub in Blarney, Co Cork, was shot in the chest by a gunman wearing a balaclava.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork was yesterday also told the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest. Four days earlier, the man on trial had allegedly told gardaí, in relation to an earlier complaint about the deceased, he would take care of matters himself.

Michael Collins, aged 29, of Upper Kilmona, Grenagh, Co Cork, has denies three charges before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury, namely murdering Patrick (Pakie) Hogan at Glen Road, Ballynaraha, Blarney, the possession of a .22 inch Hornet calibre Rhoner rifle and ammunition with intent to endanger life on Feb 10, 2011.