Witness: I lied to gardaí to protect partner

A witness has told the trial of two men charged with the murder of businessman Roy Collins she lied to gardaí in order to protect her partner, who is a key prosecution witness in the case.

Elaine Walsh yesterday gave evidence in the trial of Wayne Dundon, aged 36, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick, and Nathan Killeen, aged 24, of Hyde Road, Prospect, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Collins, aged 35, at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre, on April 9, 2009.

Ms Walsh told the court that she was in a relationship with Gareth Collins, whom she first met back in 2005.

Gareth Collins also known as Gareth Keogh, gave evidence at the Special Criminal Court last week that he was offered €20,000 to take part in the killing of publican Steve Collins, the father of Roy Collins.

Asked if she noticed anything about Gareth Collins at the time Roy Collins was shot, Ms Walsh said that he “seemed distressed” at that time.

Ms Walsh told Remy Farrell, defending Mr Dundon, that on the night before April 9, 2009, she was at home with her two children. She said Gareth Collins was not there.

The witness said that on the evening of April 9, she and Gareth Collins went to his mother’s house on Hyde Avenue, where Gareth Collins talked to gardaí.

She told Mr Farrell that she also spoke to gardaí at a station later that evening, but could not remember what she said to them.

Much of the day’s proceedings were taken up with the cross-examination of April Collins, who is a sister of Gareth Collins.

Ms Collins used to be in a relationship with Gerard Dundon, a brother of the Wayne Dundon, and had three children with him.

On Monday, Mr Bowman said that there was an issue on voice recognition evidence given by Ms Collins and asked the court to take the matter as a voir dire; a trial within a trial to determine legal issues on the evidence.

The trial continues.