Limerick’s Dundon brothers threatened to kill four, court told
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A MAN threatened to kill a grandmother and her three children after the woman's son was in a prison fight, a court heard yesterday.
Wayne (33) and John Dundon (30), with addresses in Limerick city, have been charged with threatening to kill four members of the same family.
The trial opened in the non-jury Special Criminal Court yesterday. The court heard the background to the alleged offences after April Collins ended her relationship with Ger Dundon -- a brother of the two defendants.
The couple, who were together for eight years and had three children, split up after Ger was imprisoned in 2010 for his role in the intimidation and extortion of another man in Limerick.
April's father Jimmy and her brother, Gareth Collins, were also jailed as part of the same investigation.
Prosecutor Tom O'Connell SC said Ms Collins stopped going to prison to visit Ger and would not bring their children to see him.
He said this led to a "state of acrimony" between April Collins and her former partner.
The packed court heard that on the afternoon of September 30, 2010, there was a fight in Limerick prison between Gareth Collins and Nathan Killeen -- who shared a cell with Ger Dundon.
Hours later, Killeen's sisters Ciara and Linda and two other women attacked the car of Alice Collins, who is the mother of Gareth and April Collins.
On the same evening between 8pm and 9pm, Wayne Dundon walked into Alice Collins's sitting room and referred to the prison fight.
The court heard that Wayne said he was going to kill Gareth Collins and threatened to kill her other son, Jimmy Jnr. He also said: "Our John will give some fool €10,000 to kill your Jimmy (Jnr). How about that?"
Six months later on March 25 last after returning from England, Wayne walked into April Collins's home and demanded to know why she was not letting his nephews see their father (Ger) in prison.
The court heard he threatened to kill April and also threatened to kill her brother, Gareth, when he was released from prison.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, Ms Justice Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne heard that on the night of April 3 last, April Collins heard hammering at the front door.
John Dundon was outside and allegedly shouted: "I want to see my nephews you tramp. When I catch you, I'm going to kill you."
Wayne and John Dundon have pleaded not guilty to all seven charges of threats to kill the four family members.
Wayne has also pleaded not guilty to intimidating Alice and April Collins with the intention of interfering with or obstructing the course of justice in 2010.
Alice Collins is expected to give evidence today, followed by her daughter, April.
The trial is expected to last for at least a week.
- Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
