Senior garda denies doing deal with murder trial witness

A senior garda in a Limerick murder investigation has denied that any deal was struck with the chief prosecution witness in the case.

Detective Sergeant Denis Tracey was giving evidence on day 15 of the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.

A previous witness, Jonathon Kieley, had suggested that the main prosecution witness, Laura Kelly, had changed her statement so that drugs charges against her would be dropped or dealt with less severely.

Ms Kelly had testified that the accused came into the house she shared with Mr Kieley before and after the killing, admitting his involvement.

“No such deal or arrangement was undertaken or entered into,” he told Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC, prosecuting.

He also denied Mr Kieley’s claim that the gardaí had asked Ms Kelly to match his statement. He had originally told gardaí a similar story about the accused but said in court that he could no longer remember anything.

Jonathan Fitzgerald (aged 21) of South Claughan Road, Garryowen has pleaded not guilty to murdering Noel Crawford in O'Malley Park, Southill on December 18, 2006.

Mr Crawford was shot dead outside his parents’ home in the early hours of his 40th birthday.

Laura Kelly initially told gardaí that there were no callers to her house that night. However, she changed her statement in May 2008, giving a detailed description of what happened in her home before and after the attack.

She said the defendant prepared for the shooting in her house and returned afterwards. She said he left only after her windows were shot in.

She told gardaí at the time that she had lied because she had been threatened by Jonathan Fitzgerald when detectives came to her door following the shooting in of her windows.

“Jonathan Fitz said: ‘Don’t open that fucking door’.” she said in her garda statement.

“Jonathan Fitz said to Jonathan Kieley: “If she opens that door, you’re getting it.”

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of five women and seven men.