A CENTRAL Criminal Court jury yesterday began hearing evidence on Mr Brendan Patrick O'Donnell's fitness to plead to three murder charges. The jury was sworn in on Monday after a direction by Mr Justice Lavan last week that the issue should be decided by a different judge and jury. The hearing opened yesterday be fore Mr Justice Kinlen.
The trial of Mr O'Donnell (21), a native of Co Clare but of no fixed abode, opened on January 15th before another jury and is due to resume on February 7th. It was adjourned by Mr Justice Lavan until then to allow the issue of fitness to plead to be decided.
Mr O'Donnell has denied the murder of Ms Imelda Riney (29), and her son Liam (3) between April 28th and May 8th, 1994. He has also denied the murder of Father Joseph Walsh (37), the former curate of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, between May 3rd and May 8th, 1994, and falsely imprisoning Father Walsh.
He has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary in Co Galway on May 7th, 1994, and to hijacking vehicles driven by the same persons. He has further denied having a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on the same date.