Hunger-strike prisoner set for Supreme Court appeal

The Supreme Court will hear an urgent appeal aimed at delaying the murder trial of hunger-strike prisoner John Dundon later this month.

The Supreme Court is to hear an urgent appeal aimed at delaying the murder trial of hunger-strike prisoner John Dundon later this month.

The 30-year-old, of Hyde Road, Limerick, is due to stand trial tomorrow at the non-jury Special Criminal Court for the 2008 shooting of Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan.

The prosecution is anxious for this trial to start as soon as possible because they claim the lives of their chief witness and her family are under threat.

The accused John Dundon has already been convicted of threatening to kill this woman and State Counsel Tom O’Connell has argued any delay in mounting this trial prolongs the period her life is at risk.

Addressing the risk, defence lawyers say their client is now in custody and that the threat dates from 2010 when there was a falling out between the families.

Senior Counsel Martin O’Rourke claims they need more time to prepare for the murder trial and has accused the prosecution of sitting on vital evidence up until last month.

The High Court refused to stall the prosecution but the Supreme Court has agreed that an appeal of that decision should be heard as a matter of urgency on June 25 - which means it is unlikely that John Dundon’s trial will start tomorrow.