Witness faces jail after 'smart remark'

A witness who made a ‘smart remark’ about failing to turn up for a murder trial was warned today that he faced a substantial term of imprisonment.

Glen McKenna, 24, from Dolphin House in Rialto, had been due to appear as a witness during the trial of Peter Murray, who was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the father of his girlfriend’s child.

At the Central Criminal Court, Detective Garda Tony Tighe gave evidence that he had arrested McKenna today after a bench warrant was issued last month.

“I asked him why he would not give evidence. He said he had no intention of giving evidence and that he (the accused) was sentenced to life anyway.”

Judge Paul Carney told McKenna, who was wearing a t-shirt with ‘California’ written on it, that he was in blatant contempt of court.

“You may have thought you were making a smart remark but you are facing serious imprisonment,” he said.

Judge Carney remanded him in custody and ordered him to appear before the court tomorrow.

McKenna was one of nine witnesses who initially failed to appear at the murder trial. However, eight of the witnesses subsequently gave evidence after they were located and arrested by gardaí.