Protected witness, Russell Warren, broke down and wept today as he described the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin to the Special Criminal Court. Mr Warren wept under cross-examination as he told the court: "I only drove the woman to her death. I only sent the woman to her death." The court adjourned for five minutes to allow Mr Warren to compose himself and when he returned to the witness box he apologised for breaking down.
Cross-examined by Mr Terence McDonald QC, counsel for murder accused John Gilligan, Mr Warren said that after stopping four cars behind Ms Guerin's red Opel Calibra car at traffic lights on the Naas Road he saw the pillion passenger on a motorbike fire five shots into her car. Asked how he felt after seeing this, Mr Warren replied: "I was shocked. My stomach was in bits. I just wanted to get out.''
Mr Warren said that he thought he opened the door but did not get out and he told Mr McDonald that he "probably'' wanted to help Ms Guerin, as a number of other people did. He said that something clicked in his head, and everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. Asked what had clicked in his head, Mr Warren replied: "I realised what I was after doing, after helping to murder somebody.''
Mr Warren said that he drove off up a slip road and through Clondalkin and then back to the M 50 and the he phoned John Gilligan. He said that later that day he met a friend and went for a drink to a pub in Rathgar where they watched football and placed bets.
John Gilligan is charged with the murder of Veronica Guerin on 26 June 1996. He denies this and 15 other counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.
