A man accused of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin told another member of the drugs gang behind the murder that he drove the motorcycle used in the killing, the Special Criminal Court was told yesterday. Det Insp John O'Mahony of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told the court that Mr Brian Meehan told Charles Bow den, who is now a State witness, that the murder was " a good job" and " a good hit" and that Mr Meehan also told Bowden he was involved in the murder and that he drove the motorcycle involved.
It was the sixth day of the trial of Mr Meehan (34), no fixed abode, formerly of Clifton Court, Dublin, and Stanaway Road, Crumlin, Dublin. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (36) on June 26th, 1996.
He also denies importing cannabis resin between July 1st, 1994, and October 6th, 1996, that he possessed cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates and that on or about October 3rd, 1996, at Unit 1B, Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin, he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.
He has also pleaded not guilty to having a Sten sub-machine gun, silencer barrel, two magazines, a 9 mm Agram machine pistol, five Walther semi-automatic pistols, four magazines and 1,057 rounds of assorted ammunition with intent to endanger life at Oldcourt Road, Tallaght, Dublin, between November 10th, 1995, and October 3rd, 1996.
Det Insp O'Mahony said Mr Meehan also told Bowden that Ms Guerin's car was stopped at lights on the Naas Road and that "the Wig" shot her there. He said Bowden "put his life on the line" and his house was burned down because he agreed to give evidence against his former colleagues.
Det Insp O'Mahony, cross-examined by Mr John McCrudden QC, for Mr Meehan, said he att ended the wedding reception of Bowden and Ms Juliet Bacon last August. He and other members of the Guerin investigation team were invited to the reception outside Arbour Hill prison, where Bowden is serving six years for drugs and firearms offences.
During a second day of cross-examination by Mr McCrudden, Det Insp O'Mahony said Bowden first made a statement to him ab out his involvement in the Guerin murder in October 1996. In that statement, Bowden said he was told by Mr Meehan at the Hole in the Wall pub on the night of the murder about his involvement. Meehan told him "the Wig" was on the back of the bike and Bowden said he knew "the Wig" was a man who can be identified by order of the court only as Mr E. Bowden said he had sold hash to Mr E at the West County Hotel in Chapelizod.
Bowden also said that Mr Meehan did not appear relaxed and did not elaborate further on that occasion. He said he saw Mr Meehan and Mr D in Moore Street on the day of the murder but did not speak to them. The inspector said when Bowden made another statement in March 1997, he told gardai he was wrong about Moore Street and that he had spoken to Mr Meehan and Mr D on that occasion. He also said he first heard about the shooting on the radio and he knew straight away it was Veronica Guerin.
Bowden said in the March statement he met Meehan and Mr D outside a Moore Street restaurant about 2 p.m. He had concluded his October 1996 statement by saying: "I would like to sincerely apologise to Veronica's husband and son for my part in her murder. I am full of remorse and I am glad I have told you the truth."
The court will hear a defence application today relating to the disclosure of Department of Justice documents on Bowden's custody in Arbour Hill.