Three face charges after trial collapse

Three people appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court today charged in connection with events which led to the collapse of a recent murder trial.

Two of them were charged with perjury in the trial of Liam Keane at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The third accused was charged with contempt after refusing to give evidence in the same case.

The trial collapsed in dramatic circumstances last week when a number of witnesses denied making statements to gardaí identifying Liam Keane as the killer of 19 year-old Eric Leamy in August, 2001.

Appearing before Judge Terence Finn today were Roy Behan, aged 24, of St Senan's Street, St Mary's Park; David Murphy, aged 19, of the Lee Estate, and Amanda McNamara, aged 20, formerly of the Lee Estate, all in Limerick.

Mr Behan is accused of committing perjury while under oath as a witness in the trial of Liam Keane on November 3 last by "knowingly and falsely swearing" that he did not see a row which led to the death of Eric Leamy.

Ms McNamara is charged with committing perjury on October 30 last in the same trial by "knowingly and falsely swearing" that she did not know where she was when Eric Leamy was killed.

Mr Murphy is accused of contempt of court by "refusing to give evidence" in the same trial on October 30 last at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

None of the three accused spoke during the 30-minute court sitting, which was also attended by many relatives of the accused as well as several senior Limerick gardaí.

State Solicitor, Michael Murray, made no objection to bail and Judge Finn remanded all three to appear again before Limerick District Court on Tuesday next, November 11 at 10.30am.

The perjury and contempt charges follow the arrest of seven people at various locations in Limerick on Saturday in connection with a garda investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collpase of the murder trial.

Four other people were released without charge at the weekend and files will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

When the trial collapased in dramatic fashion last Monday, Mr Justice Paul Carney ordered that a transcript of the court proceedings should be sent to the DPP.

Mr Justice Carney said it appeared that a number of people were suffering from "collective amnesia" in the case.

Liam Keane had denied the charge of murdering 19 year-old Eric Leamy in the Lee Estate, Limerick, on August 28 2001.

He walked free from the Central Criminal Court after the DPP ordered that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered with his presumption of innocence still intact.