Biker accused of killing man with single shotgun wound to head

A biker died from a single shotgun wound to the head that was fired from a gun no more than 10ft away, a pathologist has told a murder trial.

Dr Michael Curtis, deputy State pathologist, was giving evidence in the trial of Alan ‘Cookie’ McNamara (51), from Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew O’Donoghue at Mountfune on June 20th, 2015.

Mr McNamara’s stepson, Robert Cusack (28), of Abington, Murroe is also on trial and has pleaded not guilty to impeding Mr McNamara’s apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence.

The trial has previously heard that the deceased was a member of the Road Tramps motorcycle club. Mr McNamara was associated with the rival Caballeros.

Dr Curtis told Michael Delaney SC, prosecuting, that he examined Mr O’Donoghue’s body at University Hospital Limerick the day after he was shot.

A rash of about 100 individual pellets from the shotgun cartridge had created a wound of 20cm by 60cm from the top of the forehead to the face and jaw. Some of the pellets had gone through his eye sockets and penetrated his brain.

He gave the cause of death as a single shotgun wound to the head, face and neck. The pattern of the pellets, he said, showed that the gun was in excess of eight to 10 ft away from the deceased when fired.

Red book

The jury also heard from Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald, who said gardaí went to Mr McNamara’s home with a warrant on June 20th, 2015, having received information linking him to the shooting.

When they got there they found the front door open but nobody home so they entered and began their search. In a bedroom, Det Garda Fitzgerald found a shotgun cartridge in a cabinet at the foot of a bed. Alongside it was a red book or diary with handwritten notes.

He said another garda found four shotgun cartridges in a bedside locker. The red book contained what Garda Fitzgerald said appeared to be lists of names and minutes of meetings.

The first page was headed “Caballeros MC Ireland” and mentioned a proposed trip to Spain. He said the lists of names seemed to be members or potential members of the Caballeros.

There were various references to “Cookie” and a “Robert” or “Rob” alongside phone numbers. Dated June 16th, under the title “Prospects”, he said the name Robert appeared again.

Garda Fitzgerald agreed with defence counsel Andrew Sexton SC, that this appeared to tie in with his client, Robert Cusack.

The trial continues.