A man charged in connection with the shooting dead of Mr Matthew Hand at a Travellers' halting site was refused bail yesterday because gardai said they believed he would interfere with witnesses if released.
Mr Larry Power (28), Cruiserath Campsite, Mulhuddart, Co Dublin, is accused of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at Ballycoolin halting site.
Mr Matthew (Matsie) Hand (32), a father of five, died when he was shot during an incident at the site on Wednesday.
Det Insp John Mulligan said he arrested Mr Power at Blanchardstown Garda station yesterday. After he was charged he said "nothing to say".
Det Insp Mulligan objected to bail, saying the charge referred to an incident at Ballycoolin where a man was shot dead and he believed if released the defendant would interfere with witnesses.
"There is great unrest among the Travelling community since this happened and some families have even moved from their place of abode."
Asked by Mr Murrough O'Rourke, defending, what the exact grounds for saying he would interfere with witnesess were, the inspector said he had made threats while being interviewed about the incident.
"He said `we will get Willie Cawley and Jimmy Hanrahan for what he did to Matsie, not with a gun, Jimmy Hanrahan will be done with a slashhook or a hatchet'. "
Mr O'Rourke said his client would deny he said this and he asked that bail be set and he would be prepared to stay away from witnesses.
Judge Michael Connellan said as far as he was concerned there would be a remand in custody to Mountjoy. Mr Power is to appear again in Dublin District Court on March 31st.