Three charged after murder trial collapse

Three people charged in connection with events which led to the collapse of a recent murder trial have been remanded on continuing bail at Limerick District Court.

The trial collapsed 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 Tom O'Donnell 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.

Judge O'Donnell agreed to a State application to remand all three on continuing bail to Limerick District Court on December 9 next.

Liam Keane had denied the charge of murdering Eric Leamy in the Lee Estate, Limerick, on August 28th 2001. He walked free from the Central Criminal Court last week after the DPP ordered that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered with his presumption of innocence still intact.