Murder accused guilty of firearms offences

A jury in the trial of two Dublin men accused of murder have found one of the accused guilty of two charges; possession of a fire-arm and possession of ammunition at the Central Criminal Court.

The jury of ten men and two women delivered their unanimous guilty verdict on Mr Brian Kenny (aged 36) of Finglas after deliberating for 4 hours and 45 minutes before retiring to a hotel overnight.

They will resume their deliberations tomorrow morning on the further counts of murder and threatening to kill.

Both Mr Kenny of Kilshane Cross, Finglas, Co Dublin and Mr Thomas Hinchon, (aged 25) of St Ronan’s Close, Clondalkin deny the murder of 25-year-old Dubliner Mr Jonathan O’Reilly of St Mark’s Gardens, Clondalkin on April 17, 2004. Mr Kenny and Mr Hinchon also deny threatening to kill Mr Joseph O’Callaghan on April 17, 2004 at Finglas, Dublin.

Mr Kenny pleaded not guilty to the possession of a firearm, a Berratta single automatic shot gun on May 10, 2004 at Michelstown Cottage, Kilshane Cross, Dublin. He also pleaded not guilty to possession of ammunition on the same date.

It is alleged by the State that the deceased man was shot outside Cloverhill prison as he sat in a BMW car. A motorcycle drew up beside the car and a number of shots were fired through the car glass and struck Jonathon O’Reilly mortally wounding him, the State alleges.

The jury will resume their deliberations tomorrow morning at the Central Criminal Court.