Man convicted of interfering with witness

A man has been convicted of interfering with the principle prosecution witness in an attempted murder trial to try to persuade him not to give evidence at the trial of the man who had shot him in the head.

David Goulding (aged 30), of Whitechapel Grove, Clonsilla was found guilty of trying to persuade Mr Akef Alquasar not to give evidence at the trial of Darren Larkin who had shot him at the Blanchardstown Leisureplex two years ago.

Larkin (aged 24), was sentenced to life imprisonment last May for attempted murder of Mr Alquasar after a trial in which he was the main State witness.

The jury's guilty verdict on Goulding was by 10-2 majority. He had denied in his three-day trial that he attempted between May 1st and August 19th, 2006 to persuade Mr Alquasar not to give evidence.

Judge Patrick McCartan had earlier directed the jury to return a "not guilty" verdict on a second charge that he intimidated Mr Alquasar.

Judge McCartan withdrew this charge after the prosecution case closed, telling the jury that the evidence was that there was "no expressed threat" by Goulding towards Mr Alquasar despite the prosecution's case that such a threat was "implied". He remanded Goulding in custody for sentence.

Mr Alquasar, who is now in the witness protection program, gave evidence of how he was contacted by Goulding who attempted to persuade him not to give evidence against Larkin.

Mr Remy Farrell BL, prosecuting, told the jury in opening the case that Mr Alquasar had been working in Blanchardstown Leisureplex on February 20, 2006 when Larkin entered carrying a sawn off shotgun and fired two shots at him, one of which hit him on the side of the head.

Mr Alquasar told Mr Farrell he had been living in Blanchardstown for over 17 years prior to 2006 and that he had known Goulding for about 14 years.

He said he moved to Westmeath with his family for a period after the shooting but made weekly trips home. As a result of an approach made to him he passed his phone number through another person to Goulding.

He said he was urged to drop the charges during a call from Goulding because "the young fella (Larkin) is facing ten to 12 years and his girlfriend is pregnant" and was told he would then be able to go home.

Mr Alquasar said that some days after he moved back to Blanchardstown in June 2006 he received an abusive phone call from Goulding's brother, Daniel "Deano" Goulding, ordering him to drop the charges.

He said he was told: "You fucking black bastard. I will blow your head off, fire an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) into your house and cut up your son."

Mr Alquasar said that soon afterwards he was contacted by Goulding who told him not to listen to his brother ("Deano") and said he should deal with him instead.

He said he made arrangements to meet Goulding in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre where he was urged to go to the gardai and withdraw the charges.

Mr Alquasar said when he was contacted again in July 2006 by Goulding he told him he could not contact the gardai because the detectives in charge of the case were on holidays.

He said Goulding urged him to contact Larkin's solicitor instead and swear an affidavit withdrawing the charges. Mr Alquasar said Goulding gave him the solicitor's number and told him he was "under pressure" and he would go to solicitor with him if he wanted.

Mr Alquasar said Goulding told him: "You have to live in the area, your family, not the gardaí."

He said he made contact with the solicitor who told him he could not do what Goulding suggested as it was illegal.

Mr Alquasar said he was in contact with gardaí throughout this time and kept them informed of what was happening.