Teen murder accused set for trial

A 16-year-old boy charged with the murder of Dublin man Aidan O‘Kane, who was shot dead near his home in December last year, has been sent forward for trial before a judge and jury.

Widower and father of one, Aidan O’Kane, a mechanic, who was aged 50, died following a row near his house, in East Wall, Dublin 3, on December 7 last.

He was fatally wounded in the stomach, in a laneway between Shelmalier Road and Bargy Road.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, was charged three days later with murder.

At the Children’s Court in Smithfield, in Dublin this morning, State solicitor Mr Declan Keating told Judge Eamon O’Brien that the book of evidence in the case was ready to be served on the defendant.

He also told Judge O’Brien that the DPP was consenting to the teenage accused being sent forward for trial to the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court.

Defence solicitor Maura Kiely said that the defendant’s sister consented to continue to act as an independent surety.

Ms Kiely also requested legal aid for two barristers for the boy’s case “in light of the charge”.

Mr Keating, for the State, said he had no objection to the application saying “it is a serious charge”.

The teenager, who was wearing a T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and runners, remained silent, as Judge O’Brien made the order sending the case forward to the Central Criminal Court.

“If you have an alibi in relation to the matter you will have to instruct your solicitor and they have to notify the State within 14 days,” the judge told the boy, who nodded.

Garda James King of Store Street station then served the book of evidence on the north east inner city Dublin boy, who was accompanied to court by his father and his sister.

On the boy’s first court appearance on December 10 last, he was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution, part of the Mountjoy Prison complex.

Shortly before Christmas he was granted High Court bail, after his sister was approved as an independent surety in the amount of €2,000.