Limerick murder trial hears accused admit to 'murder in association with a criminal organisation'

Kurt Ryan also admitted to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life

The court heard that 'Lee Slattery was wrongly singled out. There was no basis at all for his killing.'

A dramatic development on Friday in the trial of a 32-year-old man accused of shooting a 25-year-old man more than 16 years ago saw him confess to new charges — including “commission of a murder in association with a criminal organisation”.

32-year-old Kurt Ryan of Moylish Crescent, Limerick, was on the eighth day of this cold case trial for the murder of 25-year-old Lee Slattery on the grounds of Delmege House, known locally as the Dallies, in May 2010, when the sudden development occurred.

Throughout the day, in the absence of the seven women and five men of the jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, talks were taking place between prosecution and defence parties. Then early this afternoon prosecution senior counsel Michael O’Higgins informed Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that by agreement between the parties, Kurt Ryan could be re-arraigned on new counts on the indictment.

Previously there had been only one charge, namely murder contrary to Common Law. When the jury returned, Kurt Ryan was re-arraigned and this time it was on two new charges.

The first was possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at Delmege House, Knockalisheen Road, Limerick, on May 28, 2010. Kurt Ryan stood in the dock and replied: “Guilty, judge”, to that charge. He made a similar reply to the next charge.

The second count was of “commission of a serious offence, namely murder, in association with a criminal organisation, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act.” The particulars of that charge stated that: “Kurt Ryan did on May 28, 2010, commit a serious offence, to wit, the murder of Lee Slattery, in association with a criminal organisation.” 

Kurt Ryan was remanded in continuing custody to the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, October 27. That is only for the purpose of setting another date for the sentencing to take place.

Michael O’Higgins prosecution senior counsel said: “In terms of the context as to what has happened, this murder was carried out in association with an organised criminal group. Lee Slattery was not a member of any organised criminal group. 

"He was a well-liked and highly respected person in the Ballynanty community. Lee Slattery was wrongly singled out. There was no basis at all for his killing.” 

Brian McInerney defence senior counsel said: “It will emerge in the course of the sentence hearing that these were valuable pleas of guilty.” 

Sentencing

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury and excused them from further jury service for a period of five years said that such cases could be distressing and that indeed they had heard distressing evidence in this case.

Mr O’Higgins said that family of the deceased had travelled daily from Limerick to Cork for the eight days of this trial and that it would be in ease of them and of other parties if the sentencing could take place in Limerick. 

Ms Justice Creedon said she would give consideration to whether or not this would be possible in terms of other court business.