Judgement reserved at Belfast murder trial

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of a Belfast man accused of the murder of a taxi driver in Belfast last year.

Gerard Mackin has denied the murder of Mr Edward Burns,a 36-year-old father of five, of Prospect Park, Belfast, at Bog Meadow, Falls Road, Belfast on March 12 last year.

He also denies the attempted murder of Mr Damien O' Neill (aged 25), the possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing serious harm to Mr O' Neill on the same date.

Mackin (aged 26), a native of the Whiterock area of west Belfast, with an address at Raheen Close, Tallaght, Dublin has opted for trial in Ireland under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976 which allows suspects to be tried in Ireland for alleged offences in Britain or the North.

The court last month heard evidence over two days at Belfast Crown Court from a number of witnesses who were reluctant to travel to Dublin, including the main prosecution witness, Mr Damien O' Neill, who was himself shot twice during the incident but survived.

Mr O' Neill identified the accused Mackin as the man who shot Mr Burns and who then shot him (O' Neill).

The court heard closing speeches today from prosecution counsel Mr Tom O' Connell SC and defence counsel Mr Paul Mc Dermott SC .

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three judge non-jury court, said the court would reserve its judgment in the case until a later date.