Trial witness threatened, court told

A witness in a burglary case was allegedly threatened that she would be forced to watch another person burn in their bed.

The threat, it was alleged, came from another woman.

Emer O’Gorman, aged 33, of 24 Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Cork, appeared at Cork District Court yesterday where she denied a charge of alleged interference with the witness

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said Ms O’Gorman would also be pleading not guilty to a further charge of assaulting Margaret Walsh, at Liffey Park, Mayfield.

The interference charge states the accused “on Jun 3, 2012, at Liffey Park, did harm, threatening, menace or intimidate another person, Margaret Walsh, who was assisting in the investigation by An Garda Siochána of an offence, to obstruct, pervert or interfere” with the case.

Judge Con O’Leary accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case in the district court. The matter will be mentioned on Apr 5 for the purpose of fixing a date for a full hearing.

Insp Mary King told Judge O’Leary what was alleged by the prosecution was for the purpose of the judge deciding whether or not to accept jurisdiction.

The inspector said it was alleged Ms Walsh returned to her home one afternoon and Ms O’Gorman came up to her asking why she was dragging a particular person into the burglary at her (Ms Walsh’s) home.

“It is alleged that Ms O’Gorman grabbed her around the neck with her two hands and said [named person] had nothing to do with the burglary and she had better tell the guards she broke into her own house and did the damage.

“Ms Walsh said Emer O’Gorman grabbed her by the head and banged her head twice against the railings in the laneway.”

It was further alleged the defendant shouted: “I am going to kill you, you are going to get killed, You had better get out of the country,” and that the defendant punched her face and said she and others would make her watch as another person was burned in his bed.