A MAN charged with the murder of a biker told gardai he gave another man a gun just hours before the biker was shot during a rally in Co Wicklow, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Det Sgt Patrick Lynagh said Mr Dermot Griffin told him he could not name the man to whom he had given the gun because he feared for his life and family. Mr Griffin had also said he knew when he gave away the gun it was possible "they were going to kill Red".
Del Sgt Lynagh was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of Mr Griffin (36), of Windmill Road, Crumlin, Dublin, who has denied the murder of Stephen Murphy (34), a bank porter, from Mornington, Drogheda, at Carnew, Co Wicklow, on May 1st 1994. Mr Murphy was also known as "Redser" and "Red".
At the opening of the trial, Mr Griffin also denied five other charges relating to a Mauser pistol and ammunition. He was rearraigned on those charges yesterday and admitted all five.
The defendant pleaded guilty to having a Mauser 9mm semi automatic pistol for an unlawful purpose in Carnew on May 1st, 1994 and to having a Mauser pistol and seven rounds of ammunition for an unlawful purpose in Windmill Road on April 29th, and having a Mauser pistol in Rathnew, Co Wicklow, on April 30th.
The trial has heard that Mr Murphy was found seriously injured in the rally field in the early hours of May 1st, 1994, and pronounced dead at 9 a.m.
In court yesterday, Del Sgt Lynagh said he had taken notes of two statements made by the defendant to gardai on May 30th and May 31st, 1994.
Both statements were read to the court. In the May 30th statement, Mr Griffin said he got possession of a very old pistol with a loaded magazine on April 29th, 1924. He said the pistol was examined by a friend who cleaned it. He said he had the gun with him when he travelled with others to the Carnew bikers' rally.
Mr Griffin said he was in the rally field for a long time listening to music and he had a lot to drink. He said a friend had said: "I'll take that thing off you" and he had given him the gun.
Later on May 1st he heard about Stephen Murphy's death. He had known "Red" a year and a half. He said he suspected the gun was used in the killing. He said he left Carnew that day and in his group was the man to whom he had given the gun earlier.
Det Sgt Lynagh said he put it to Mr Griffin the following day that he had not told him the full story and Mr Griffin began to cry and spoke of personal and family problems. He said he would "tell the truth" but would not name others involved. He appeared frightened.
Mr Griffin had then made a second statement. In that statement, he said he had been approached at the Carnew rally by a friend who told him he had problems with Red.
"He asked me for the yoke," he said. Mr Griffin said he gave the man the pistol. He said: "I can't give any names, I fear for my life and my family."
He said in the statement he knew when he gave the man the gun "it was possible they were going to kill Red".
Cross examined by Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, defending, Del Sgt Lynagh agreed there was no note of what took place during an interview with Mr Griffin from 7.03 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. on May 30th, 1994. He agreed Mr Griffin was interviewed for seven hours with just a 20 minute interval.
He agreed that Mr Griffin had denied involvement in the murder of Mr Murphy at all times. He agreed Mr Griffin never said he desired that Mr Murphy be killed.
Det sgt Lynagh denied he had told Mr Griffin he would not be charged with murder if he admitted possession of the firearm. He accepted that Mr Griffin was very upset and frightened on May 31st.
Mr Michael Broughall said he had an interest in bikes in 1994. He was drinking in a bar in Harold's Cross in Dublin on the night of April 29th and met the defendant and others there. He went back to a mobile home in Windmill Road, Crumlin. The accused man also had a mobile home on the same site.
Mr Broughall said he went to the accused's mobile home and was shown an old Mauser gun.
He said he had cleaned the gun, removed ammunition from it and cleaned the ammunition and put it back into the weapon. Others were present while he was cleaning the gun.
Cross examined by Mr Buckley, the witness agreed he had initially told lies about his involvement with the gun.
The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Morris and the jury.