Teen warned of perjury risk as trial collapses
Ian Brennan (18) of St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, was warned by Judge Carroll Moran at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday that he may be committing an offence after he failed in the witness box to back up a statement in which he identified the two accused men to gardai.
Instructing the jury to enter a not guilty plea on the basis of a lack of evidence, Judge Moran said that in most cases witnesses had "more backbone" than Mr Brennan.
"If this type of activity were continued, it could threaten law and order in the very country we live in and could cause anarchy," he said.
William O'Neill (32) Keane Street, Pennywell, and Gary Long, Round House Apartments, High Street, Limerick - both natives of St Mary's Park - pleaded not guilty yesterday to threatening to kill Ian Brennan and his father Paddy Brennan; possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury; and discharging a firearm at St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick.
Yesterday, Brennan said he was shocked and terrified at the time and mistakenly named the two defendants in his statement to gardai half an hour after the incident on January 2 last.
However, Judge Carroll Moran said it was nonsense to think that Brennan was so shocked that he identified people incorrectly.
"It's a disgraceful state of affairs. This nonsense has happened in Limerick before but it doesn't happen very often and is the exception rather than the rule," said Judge Moran.
State counsel John O'Sullivan hinted that Brennan, who was treated as a hostile witness during the case, could face a perjury prosecution.
He indicated to the judge that a transcript of the case my be required later and said this was not in relation to either of the accused.
- Eugene Hogan
