Second witness hospitalised as Dundon murder trial proceeds

The Special Criminal Court has heard there has been another unexpected twist regarding a witness in the murder trial of Limerick man John Dundon.

The 31-year-old with an address at Hyde Road is accused of murdering Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan at the Clonmore Estate, Kilteragh in the early hours of November 9, 2008.

Two weeks ago John Dundon’s trial was put on hold because a key prosecution witness April Collins was hospitalised.

This morning the Special Criminal Court was informed by prosecution counsel Tom O’Connell that in an unexpected twist her sister Lisa Collins – also an essential witness – has been taken into hospital apparently with appendicitis.

He said she is facing keyhole surgery and should be fit to testify next week.

The trial is proceeding today and Gardaí who investigated the murder have begun giving evidence.

April Collins will take the stand tomorrow and is expected to say she witnessed John Dundon ordering a killing that led to Shane Geoghegan being shot in a case of mistaken identity.

Update at 3pm

The Special Criminal Court has heard Shane Geoghegan's girlfriend text him at 1am that morning to tell him that she thought there had been a shooting on their road.

Jenna Barry (a witness in the trial) has given evidence that she heard loud bangs and that when she opened the door of her house she saw a man wearing a hooded top running in the middle of the road.

She said he hopped in the side of a space wagon, someone said 'drive drive', and the vehicle sped off.