The chief witness against five Limerick men on trial for murder told a jury today he witnessed one accused shoot his uncle in the head.
In evidence to the Central Criminal Court amid tight security Owen Treacy (31) identified one of the five accused David "Frogs Eyes" Stanners as the man who shot Kieran Keane dead at Drombana, Limerick on 29th January last. He also identified Stanners as the man who stabbed him 17 times leaving him for dead.
Treacy told Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, they had been abducted, hooded and had their hands tied behind their backs with duct tape.
He alleged that another of the accused Desmond Dundon ordered them to stand while he tied their hands behind their backs. Two men then appeared from the kitchen wearing balaclavas. He knew one of them to be "David Frogs Eyes Stanners."
"I knew his voice all my life", said Treacy. He alleged that Desmond Dundon and he placed net hoods over their heads, which he taped down.
They were driven to another location, a house in Roundwood Estate, Rosbrien and drove into the garage. "Mr X was in the passenger seat the driver and Noddy McCarthy was the driver."
They were then pushed into a green Hiace van by Anthony McCarthy and Keane by Desmond Dundon. Christohper "Smokie" Costelloe had a handgun in his hand".
"I could see Stanners was the driver of the van and in the passenger seat My Lord was James McCarthy who I know all my life." Smokie Costelloe sat in the back armed with the handgun.
When the van stopped, Stanners ordered them out and pushed Kieran Keane to the ground. "And I witnessed David Frogs Eyes Stanners shoot my uncle in the back of the head" Mr Treacy alleged.
He said Stanners and Costelloe came towards him. "Smokie stabbed me in the throat." Treacy said he cut his palm as he tried to take the knife. "I wasstabbed 17 times."
"Who stabbed you?" asked Mr Buckley? "Frogs Eyes David Stanners" the witness replied. "Stanners said: 'This is the last face you're going to see and he stuck the knife into me'."
He said he heard James McCarthy saying "He's dead, he's dead, he's dead."
"I played dead, My Lord because I knew it was the only way to get rid of these men." After they drove off he went over to where Kieran Keane was lying on the ground and could see he was barely breathing. He said he wentto a nearby house for help.
The five accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kieran Keane (36) of Garryowen, Limerick on 29th January last at Drombana, Bushy Island, Limerick and to falsely imprisoning Mr Keane on the same date.
They also deny the attempted murder of Owen Treacy (31) of St Munchin's St, St Mary's Park on 29th January last and to falsely imprisoning him on the same date.
The are: Desmond Dundon (20) of Hyde Road, Limerick; David "Frogs Eyes" Stanners (31) of Pineview Gardens, Moyross; James McCarthy (24) of Delmege Park, Moyross; Christopher "Smokie" Costelloe (20) of Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty Beg and Anthony "Noddy" McCarthy (21) of Fairgreen, Garryowen.