"Criminal elements" are attempting to interfere with the course of justice by issuing threats, the Special Criminal Court was told this evening as it remanded in custody the alleged victim in the trial of four men, who are accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning him at a Dublin house.
At the three-judge court this evening, Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue said that, while he had sympathy for Barry Moore, 34, who he believed was "gripped by fear", it was necessary for him to be remanded in custody so the trial of his four alleged attackers can commence.
Mr Moore is the alleged victim in the trial of brothers Jason Hennessy Jr, 28, and Brandon Hennessy, 22, as well as Kenneth Fitzsimons, 45, and his son Dean Fitzsimons, aged 25.
He was arrested this morning on foot of a bench warrant, which was issued after he failed on several occasions to turn up in court.
Det Insp Donoghue gave evidence to counsel for the State, Maddie Grant BL, that since failing to attend court a number of times, "the relationship between Mr Moore and the gardaí appears to have broken down".
Det Insp Donoghue said the gardaí had come into information that Mr Moore had travelled to the UK in the interim. He said Mr Moore had said he could not give information as he had been threatened.
While the inspector said that the investigation team have huge sympathy for Mr Moore and his family, who are "gripped by fear", it is in the public interest that this case proceeds. He said that Mr Moore needed to be remanded in custody until tomorrow to allow the trial to proceed.
Det Insp Donoghue went on to say that "criminal elements" are attempting to interfere with the course of justice by issuing threats. He said he believed that if Mr Moore were granted bail, he would abscond again.
Carol Doherty BL, representing Mr Moore, said he wished to purge the contempt created by his previous non-attendance, and he was giving every assurance that he would attend court.
Presiding judge Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said that while the court had enormous sympathy for the position Mr Moore is in, it had to be conscious of the gravity of the alleged offending.
She directed that Mr Moore be remanded in custody, with the trial listed to commence tomorrow.
The trial was due to begin on 17 October but was repeatedly delayed. It was adjourned until 24 November, when a bench warrant was issued for Mr Moore after he failed to appear in court. The alleged victim failed to turn up in court for a second time last week.
Last week, counsel for the State, Garnet Orange SC said gardaí were still in communication with the witness, but as he was not present in court, the State was not in a position to advance the trial. He said the State was "hopefully confident" that the trial could commence on 1 December.
When the case returned to court on that date, Mr Orange said he had spoken to the investigating members of An Garda Síochána and they remained in communication with Mr Moore. Counsel said he hoped the court would appreciate that the prosecution was endeavouring to take "realistic action".
Jason Hennessy Jr and Brandon Hennessy, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, along with Kenneth Fitzsimons and Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 are charged with false imprisonment, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm, and with participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation by assaulting Mr Moore, causing him serious harm.
The offences are alleged to have happened on 12 February, 2025, at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown in Dublin 15.
Jason Hennessy Jr is further charged with threatening to damage property and producing a branding stamp to intimidate another person during a dispute or a fight on the same date and at the same location.
Brandon Hennessy is charged with producing a "steel breaker bar" in a manner likely to intimidate another person while committing or appearing to be about to commit an assault.
Dean Fitzsimons is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the alleged victim and producing a metal branding stamp and a steel breaker bar.
Kenneth Fitzsimons is charged with producing a steel breaker bar and an axe during the course of a dispute or fight.
