Dead prisoner 'main suspect in Cabra shooting'

The jury in the trial of a Mountjoy prisoner accused of murdering another inmate has heard that the deceased was the main suspect in a shooting incident in a Cabra pub in 2005.

Detective Sergeant Robert O’Reilly told Paul McDermott SC, defending, that Derek Glennon was unlawfully at large at the time of a shooting in The Fassaugh House bar in Cabra in December 2005.

Det Sgt O’Reilly told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Glennon was identified “100%” by the victim in the shooting and when interviewed by gardaí Mr Glennon removed his clothing and attempted to “defecate into his hands”.

Declan O'Reilly, of Parnell Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Glennon in a stabbing incident in D wing of Mountjoy on June 25, 2007.

Det Sgt O’Reilly said that in 2005 an unmasked man entered The Fassaugh House on a Sunday evening carrying a “Glock semi automatic pistol” and fired eight bullets, five of which hit the victim, who suffered a shattered jaw.

Det Sgt O’Reilly said that Derek Glennon “quickly became the main suspect”. He was living in Phibsborough at the time and was “on the run”. He had been involved in a fight in a take away the night before and was drinking in The Fassaugh House on the day of the shooting.

The row began again in the car park of the pub and Mr Glennon “came off worse”.

The shooting happened later that day and the injured party picked Mr Glennon out in an informal ID parade as the culprit.

Det Sgt O’Reilly was asked what type of man Mr Glennon was and he replied: "He was a very, very aggressive type of individual. He obstructed interviews from the word go, he stripped off and attempted to defecate into his hands at one stage."

Det Sgt O’Reilly described the accused in this trial as “straight up and helpful” during interviews in relation to the fatal stabbing of Mr Glennon. He became upset during interview but persevered and assisted gardaí with inquires.

The court heard that during interviews two days after Mr Glennon died, the accused identified himself on security footage. He said he was trying to return a knife he was holding for Mr Glennon.

The accused told gardaí that he thought Mr Glennon was going to attack him in the yard of the prison. When told of Mr Glennon’s injuries the accused said, “I panicked, I don’t remember doing all these. I blacked out I think. I don’t remember it happening like you showed me on the video”.

The accused told gardaí he had been bullied and intimidated by Mr Glennon and said, “I couldn’t handle it anyone. I was terrified of him. I thought he was going to attack me in the yard. I’m just sorry this happened”.

The accused told gardaí he thought he was going to “get a strike” – a slash across the face with a knife – just before the alleged incident. He said Mr Glennon told him, “you’re looking to get it off me you little weasel, walk out to the yard”.

The prosecution has now finished its case and the jury is expected to begin its deliberations tomorrow.