Man charged in connection with double murder

A man appeared in court tonight charged in connection with the fatal shooting of two men in Dublin last Sunday.

Gary Howard (aged 22) of Dunsohley Grove, Finglas was charged with the murders of Brendan Molyneaux and Paddy Mooney.

The two victims received serious injuries following the double shooting incident at a flat in Pearse House, in south inner city Dublin, on the evening of January 10 last.

One of the injured men was removed to St James Hospital while the other man was taken to St Vincent s University Hospital. Both men were pronounced dead a short time later.

Tonight at a late session of the Dublin District Court, now sitting at the new Criminal Courts of Justice Complex on Parkgate Street, he was remanded in custody in Cloverhill prison to appear again next Thursday.

Mr Howard appeared in court amid a heavy garda presence. Wearing a white jumper, blue jacket and blue jeans, he smiled as he was brought in, flanked by two detectives.

While being led through the court he pulled down his jeans and boxers and shouted, “Judge, spank that hairy a***, suck it hard.”

When he was led to his seat he shouted, “I shot the sheriff put I did not shoot the deputy.”

He continued shouting, saying, “It's a f***ing stitch up” and “they terrorised me” before he was ordered to be silent by the court registrar.

Detective Inspector Michael Cryan told the court he charged Mr Howard with the double murder at 7.26pm at Pearse Street Garda Station.

He said Mr Howard replied, “it's a stitch up” when charged with Mr Molyneaux's killing and “another f***ing stitch up” when charged with the killing of Mr Mooney.

When this was read out in court, Mr Howard shouted, “that's right Judge.”

Solicitor for Mr Howard, Ms Jenny McGeever, made an application for medical treatment to be given to the accused while in custody.

She also applied for legal aid, telling Judge Patrick McMahon that Mr Howard was not in employment. Both applications were granted.

When the proceedings finished and people were asked to stand as the judge left, Mr Howard refused to rise, saying, “I don't recognise this court, I'm not standing.”

He was pulled up and when he was led out past a row of reporters, he shouted “Paul Reynolds is a dirtbird” and went to spit at the RTÉ crime correspondent.

Detectives restrained him and he said, “relax, I'm only messing. I wasn't really going to spit,” before being led out of court.