Murder suspect refused leave to attend grandfather's funeral

A murder suspect, who was refused compassionate bail to attend his grandfather’s funeral this weekend, was unable to tell the High Court todday what his dead relative’s address was.

Mr Justice Patrick Mc Carthy said he had not been impressed by the evidence of 22-year-old Keith Wilson who is charged with the murder of father-of-two Daniel Gaynor, and who told the court he had been very close to his late grandfather.

Mr Gaynor (aged 24) was shot in the neck and chest as he walked along St Helena’s Road, Finglas, on August 14 last and Mr Wilson is charged with his murder.

Judge McCarthy said he did not accept that Wilson, of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, had been particularly close to his 85-year-old grandfather.

He refused to release Wilson for an eight-hour spell from Saturday morning to attend the funeral despite an offer by his family to post €5,000 bail just so he could be there.

Wilson told his barrister, Seamus Clarke, he was very close to his grandfather and used to clean house for him. He said he wanted to attend the funeral tomorrow morning and had no intention of skipping bail.

In cross-examination by Ms Grainne O’Neill, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Wilson said he could not remember his late grandfather’s address but knew where the flats were where he had lived.

He could not remember the exact number of times he had visited his grandfather during 2010 but felt it would be about 10 times.

Wilson agreed with Ms O’Neill that his grandfather had been in a home since February 2010 and said the 10 visits must have taken place during the months of January and February last year.

When asked if he spent a lot of time in Spain he said he had and could not remember the number of times he had been back and forward to and from Spain last year.

Ms O’Neill told Wilson his evidence to the court was “simply not credible.”

Garda Inspector Martin Cumins told the court he had opposed the granting of bail before Mr Justice Butler when bail had initially been refused and did not believe Wilson would turn up to face trial.

“No amount of money would ease my mind as to the concerns and risks of this man getting bail,” Inspector Cumins said.

Judge Mc Carthy said he had previously dealt with applications for compassionate bail in which there were special circumstances involved. He refused to release Wilson who, the judge said, had made a very poor impression in the witness box.

He also refused an application to recommend that the State lift the legal costs bill for Wilson’s application.