Cousin testifies against Dundon

The Special Criminal Court today heard evidence from the cousin of a Limerick man who is on trial for the murder of businessman Roy Collins in 2009.

Christopher McCarthy was giving evidence in the non-jury trial of Wayne Dundon, aged 36, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, and Nathan Killeen, aged 24, of Hyde Rd, Prospect, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre on April 9, 2009.

McCarthy is serving a seven-and-a-half year prison term for demanding money with menaces.

Michael O’Higgins SC, prosecuting, said the “meat of the case” was in the evidence of five witnesses who were associates of the accused, including McCarthy, a cousin of the Dundons.

McCarthy told Sean Guerin SC, prosecuting, that in 2009 he was living with his partner Lisa Collins. He said her brother, Gareth Collins, stayed there.

McCarthy said that, on April 9, 2009, he was at home with Lisa and Mr Collins when Mr Killeen called round.

He said he did not hear Mr Killeen’s talk with Mr Collins but saw him hand Mr Collins a phone.

Earlier in the week, Mr Collins said he was offered €20,000 to take part in the killing of Steve Collins, father of Roy Collins.

He said Mr Killeen got Mr Dundon on his mobile phone, and Mr Dundon said: “You just drop them up and drop them back down again.”

“He wanted me to drive Nathan up to the Steering Wheel pub,” said Mr Collins. “Nathan would go in the pub, whack Stevie Collins and would come back out.”

In cross-examination by Remy Farrell SC, for Mr Dundon, McCarthy was asked if he ever called Mr Collins a “crooked, snaky c**t”. McCarthy said this was a “spur of the moment thing” during an argument.