Keelin Walker (30), with an address at Tuskar Court, Marina Village, Arklow, appeared for day one of his trial at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, January 21.
The accused is charged with aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and possession of a knife while on a premises as a trespasser.
Keelin Walker (30), with an address at Tuskar Court, Marina Village, Arklow leaving Bray Courthouse.
News in 90 seconds – Thursday 22nd of January
The first witness for the prosecution was Detective Garda Darren Mulhall of Arklow Garda Station, who began proceedings by introducing several exhibits, including photographs of the alleged injured parties and CCTV footage.
The footage showed two men entering a property at Woodland Green, Arklow, in the early hours of the morning and leaving the house one minute and 30 seconds later. Audio was also played to the court, during which a dog could be heard barking along with people shouting and a child crying.
The victim of the incident, Jason Douglas, testified that on the night of the assault he was at home with his partner and their two small children. He said they had placed an order with a local fast food restaurant at approximately 11.30pm.
Mr Douglas informed the court that he heard someone moving the handle of his front door.
As he made his way to the hall, two men dressed in balaclavas with their hoods up forced their way inside. He said he was brought into the kitchen and pushed onto the kitchen table.
The court was told by counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly BL, that one of the men involved has already received a sentence for his role in the incident. It is alleged that the defendant grabbed Mr Douglas’ partner, Shaunie Furlong, and took her to the ground.
Mr Douglas said he initially told gardaí he believed the intruder was someone else, but the following day, when his nerves settled down, he identified Mr Walker as one of the alleged perpetrators.
Mr Douglas told the court that the other man had a knife, while Mr Walker allegedly hit and kicked Ms Furlong. “I could only see glimpses, but he was giving her a good beating,” said Mr Douglas..
The men allowed the two children to leave the room and go upstairs.
Photographs were presented to the court showing the injuries sustained by Mr Douglas.
The court heard that the men demanded a black bag with a combination lock, which had been placed on top of the microwave to keep it out of the children’s reach. Mr Douglas told the court that he used the bag to store cannabis.
Mr Douglas said he had known Mr Walker his whole life and knew him by the nickname “Kilo”. While he could not recall whether the man in his house that he believed was Mr Walker had a knife, he said he recognised the man as Mr Walker by his voice, the court was told.
Senior counsel Barry White, for the defence, argued that in Mr Douglas’ first statement to gardaí on February 6, he stated that both men had knives with smooth blades, but in his testimony he described the knife as a bread knife, which is known to have a serrated blade.
Mr White commented that Mr Douglas identified another man before he identified Mr Walker.
Mr Douglas said “both men have Arklow accents” and that it was hard to recall everything.
The court heard that in his statement to gardaí, Mr Douglas said Mr Walker told him to “give me the money and the drugs”, to which he replied that he did not sell drugs anymore.
Mr Kelly noted that this was the third trial arising from the incident and that Mr Walker’s co-accused has pleaded guilty and received a sentence in relation to the alleged offence.
Ms Furlong told Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court that when both men entered her kitchen, where her small child with autism was sitting, she grabbed a knife before the man she believed to be Mr Walker jumped forward and took it from her.
She said her child got between herself and Mr Walker and said “get away from my mammy”, before he was allowed to leave the room and ordered upstairs.
Ms Furlong said Mr Walker then swept her to the ground before hitting her with his fist and elbow. She said she had known Mr Walker for a long time.
During the incident, she alleged she saw the defendant’s face after pulling down his snood and seeing his beard.
Mr Kelly noted that the injuries sustained by Ms Furlong included a black eye and damage to an earring, which required removal by a doctor.
Mr White said that in her original statement Ms Furlong described the knife as “like you would use to peel potatoes with”, but in her testimony she said it resembled a steak knife with serrated edges.
Counsel for the defence argued that nobody laid a finger on her until she picked up a knife. Ms Furlong responded that her home was being invaded and that she had a right to defend herself. She said she believed she may have stopped Mr Walker during the tussle.
The court heard that Ms Furlong identified Mr Walker and his co-accused on CCTV footage. She told the court that “you would know it’s him”, adding that she recognised him because of his distinctive walk.
After the men left, Ms Furlong said she did not want to go to hospital, but was placed under observation by gardaí due to concerns she may have sustained a concussion.
Garda Avril Foley said she was on duty on the night and later took photographs of Ms Furlong’s injuries, noting her swollen eye and ear pain, which she described as sore and sensitive.
Det Ian Flynn testified that a search was carried out at the co-accused’s home several days later, where a black bag was discovered in a recycling bin outside a property on Arklow Main Street.
The court heard no forensic evidence, such as fingerprints, was obtained from the bag. Mr White said the bin was accessible to the public.
Det Gda Mulhall said he has been aware of both men since they were teenagers and that after obtaining a search warrant from Judge David Kennedy at Bray District Court, he arrested Mr Walker.
During interview, nothing probative was established, with Mr Kelly reading the interview into the record. Mr Walker denied being in the housing estate on the night of February 5 and said he wore black clothing every day.
Mr Walker claimed he had heard he was stabbed by Ms Furlong and later said he makes music and suffers from mental health issues. “F*** knows what happened but I’m not involved,” he said.
The accused was subject to an inference interview.
Mr White questioned Det Gda Mulhall’s identification of Mr Walker on CCTV footage.
Det Gda Mulhall said he was 100 per cent sure it was Mr Walker. Mr White said he was putting it to the witness that he could also be 100 per cent wrong.
Statements from other gardaí were read into the record, including one recalling seeing scratches on Mr Walker’s hand at some point.
The trial is due to continue with further witnesses on Thursday, January 22.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme