Man found guilty of impeding murder trial

A Dublin man will be sentenced for impeding a murder trial after he was found not guilty last month of murder.

Alan Harte, aged 33, of Clareville Grove, Glasnevin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his friend, Peter Gunn, 28, on January 4, 2009, at Phibsborough.

Paul Coffey SC prosecuting told the court yesterday that the verdict of not guilty of murder had been unanimous but that Harte had been found guilty of assisting in the disposal of Mr Gunn’s body.

Det Sgt Alan Brady confirmed that, following an evening out drinking with Harte, Mr Gunn was killed in a Cabra Park flat with a meat knife atfer 2.30am.

Kastriot Boza, who was in the flat, alleged the murder was committed by Harte.

The court heard that, following a phonecall, Heyrush Rama unknowingly assisted in bringing Mr Gunn’s body to a location 14km away from the flat in Phibsborough. The body was placed in the back of Mr Rama’s car on the pretext that Mr Gunn was asleep. The body was then removed and dumped into a water-filled trench.

An autopsy revealed that Mr Gunn had received a stab wound to the left side of his chest, collapsing his left lung and causing a wound to the heart.

Boza was found guilty of impeding the Garda investigation into the murder of Mr Gunn.

Mr Justice Carney imposed a six-year sentence on Boza, suspending the last two years due to his guilty plea.

Det Brady told the court yesterday that Harte has 170 previous convictions.

Patrick Marrinan SC, defending, told the court that Harte had grown up without parental guidance.

“My client comes from as bad a background as one can imagine,” said Mr Marrinan.

The court also heard that Harte expresses remorse in a letter he wrote to the Gunn family.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Harte in custody for sentencing on June 18.