Court claim of induced confession

A man accused of attempted murder was induced into signing a statement of confession to gardai, it was claimed in the Central…

A man accused of attempted murder was induced into signing a statement of confession to gardai, it was claimed in the Central Criminal Court yesterday.

Mr Paul Rowley (28), of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, Dublin, has denied the attempted murder of Mr John Alford and Ms Violet Power Blackburn on December 11th, 1996, at Ballyfermot Drive. He also denies charges of having a .45 calibre handgun and ammunition and with intent to endanger life.

Mr Diarmuid McGuinness SC, defending, put it to Det Sgt Gabriel O'Gara, who was present when statements from the accused were allegedly taken, that Mr Rowley had not volunteered the signed statement.

"I put it to you that [the accused] was induced to sign the statement because you told him he would be released," Mr McGuinness said.

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"I didn't give any promise, my Lord," Det Sgt O'Gara said.

Mr McGuinness asked was the statement then "volunteered out of the blue just like that?"

Det Sgt O'Gara replied: "That's exactly what I'm telling the court."

The trial continues.