Limerick man pleads guilty to violent disorder

A Limerick man, who was arrested along with seven other men following a Garda investigation into extortion, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder before the Special Criminal Court.

Gerard Dundon, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, is to be sentenced in the New Year before his co-accused stand trial on charges including making threats to kill and demanding money with menaces.

The men, who have been in custody since July, are standing trial before the Special Criminal Court after the DPP certified that the ordinary courts were inadequate to deal with the case.

Dundon appeared briefly before the three-judge court today where he admitted violent disorder, in that he and other people used or threatened to use violence to cause people to fear for their safety or the safety of others, at Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick on February 17 last.

His co-accused include brothers Christopher McCormack (aged 27), of McNamara Terrace, Wolfe Tone St, and David McCormack (aged 25), of Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, who are also charged with committing violent disorder at Sarsfield Avenue on the same date.

Gareth Collins Keogh (aged 27), of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston and his father Jimmy Collins (aged 47), of Crecora Avenue, are charged with demanding money with menaces from Mark Heffernan at John Carew Park, on dates between January 29 and February 28, 2009.

The father and son are also charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan on October 17, 2009 at the Milk Market ,and with demanding money with menaces on the same date.

Gareth Collins Keogh is also charged with committing violent disorder at Sarsfield Avenue on February 17 of this year.

Christopher McCarthy (aged 27), of Crecora Avenue is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan at the Milk Market, and with demanding money with menaces on the same date.

Michael Bridgeman (aged 51),of Glenview, Ballyneety, is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mark Heffernan at John Carew Park on a date between January 29, 2009 and February 12, 2010, and with demanding money with menaces.

Patrick Pickford (aged 19), of Talbot Avenue, Prospect is charged with demanding money with menaces.

The trial, which is due to begin in March, is expected to last four weeks.

Mr Justice Paul Butler asked counsel for the prosecution, Mr Tom O'Connell SC if he felt that sentencing Dundon on a date before the trial may prejudice it. Mr O' Connell said it would not, and Dundon was remanded in continuing custody to be sentenced in early 2011.

The court was told that at his sentence hearing, Dundon's defence lawyers will say that he had a limited or peripheral role in the incident at Sarsfield Avenue.