TWO LIMERICK brothers who are charged with threatening to kill a woman, her daughter and her son, have applied for legal aid and the imposition of a “media blackout” during their first appearance before the Special Criminal Court.
John Dundon (29), Hyde Road, Limerick, is charged with threatening to kill a woman and her daughter at Ballinacurra Weston during two incidents on the weekend of April 3rd and 4th.
His brother Wayne Dundon (33), Lenihan Avenue, Limerick, is charged with threatening to kill a man in Limerick city on September 30th, 2010.
Shane O’Callaghan, for the Dundons, applied to the three-judge court yesterday for legal aid to be assigned and furnished the court with documentation detailing the employment record, income and expenditure of both men.
In a statement of means furnished to the court, John Dundon listed both his total income and expenditure as “zero euro”.
He did not name an employer or record the receipt of any social welfare payments.
State solicitor Michael O’Donovan told the court that the form as completed did not comply with the requirements of the court.
Mr O’Callaghan said the form was compliant and told the court that John Dundon did not have any expenses as he had been living with his girlfriend, who supplied him with both food and board.
The court heard that Wayne Dundon estimated that he earned €170 a week from selling horses and, although no weekly expenditure was detailed on his statement of means, his total expenditure was given as approximately €120 a week.
Mr Justice John MacMenamin, presiding, said the court would direct that both men complete a legal aid application form and statement of means specific to the Special Criminal Court as both men had filed documentation particular to the District Court which was not suitable for the day’s hearing.
Mr O’Callaghan made a subsequent application for a “media blackout” of proceedings as he said the case had received “constant media coverage” which was “hugely prejudicial” for two men facing trial.
Mr Justice MacMenamin, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill, told Mr O’Callaghan that he could make an application for such a direction at the next hearing of the case or pursue the matter elsewhere.
He remanded both men in custody to appear before the court on July 21st, when an application for bail may be submitted on their behalf.
