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‘Not guilty’ plea as Sergeant Callanan murder trial begins

A man yesterday denied capital murder of a Garda sergeant after he walked into a Garda station armed with petrol canisters and flame flares and announced that staff had “two minutes to evacuate the building”, a court heard.

Daniel O’Toole (37), of Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the charge that on July 21, 1999 at Tallaght Garda station, he murdered Sergeant Andrew Callanan, a Garda sergeant, acting in the course of his duties.

O’Toole pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty of manslaughter. If O’Toole is found guilty of capital murder he will be given an automatic 40-year prison sentence.

A simple charge of murder was also put to the accused, as an alternative charge to capital murder. He pleaded not guilty to the simple murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

O’Toole also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of arson on the same date, with intention to damage property. Opening the case for the prosecution, Peter Charleton SC told the jury the case involved “particularly tragic events” culminating in the burning to death of Sgt Andrew Callanan at his posting in Tallaght Garda station in front of his colleagues.

Mr Charleton said it was the State’s case that in the early hours of the morning of the July 21, 1999, the accused entered the public area of Tallaght Garda station armed with two canisters of petrol and a Japanese flame flare and announced that gardai had “two minutes to evacuate the building”.

The prosecution allege the accused set a leaking two-litre petrol canister on the counter of the public office in the station, allowing the petrol to soak the counter and the floor and stood back with his arms aloft holding two flaming Japanese flares.

Mr Charleton said the late Sgt Callanan approached the scene, having fetched a fire extinguisher, and came through double doors barring public access to the rest of the station. Two other colleagues standing in the doorway accompanied him, holding the doors open.

Sgt Callanan is believed to have repeatedly asked the accused, in a calm voice “What are you at?” but got no reply, the court heard.

Mr Charleton said one of the gardai present at the time said that “by the time Sergeant Callanan came to the door, the man lit both flares and held them at shoulder height, saying to evacuate the station.” “Sgt Callanan’s reaction was to spray the man with foam in the hope or expectation” of dealing with the situation without hurting the man, Mr Charleton said.

Having confronted him in that way, “one of the flares in the man’s hand moved downwards from the position he was holding and onto the floor.

“There was a flash. [One of the gardai present] was thrown threw the door with the blast of the flame and [another garda] retreated and got a second fire extinguisher,” Mr Charleton said.

At this point the public area was engulfed in flames and was locked. Anyone seeking access out of the public area through the double doors to the main body of the station, needed to have and be able to, input a code on the door. “A chaotic situation broke out”, the court was told because gardai in the main body of the station knew Sgt Callanan was trapped in the public area engulfed in flames.

The force of the explosion had thrown one garda into the corridor away from where Sgt Callanan was and as colleagues struggled to gain access to where he lay against a wall burning, they were “driven back by the heat,” the court heard. Any help that subsequently arrived was too late and Sgt Callanan was officially pronounced dead within an hour. The court heard that the accused had been facing a number of family problems at the time, that a barring order had been placed upon him since certain allegations were levelled against him and he had been denied access to his children. Shortly before the killing, O’Toole was delighted to receive word that he could have access to his children but that on a prearranged meeting between him and his wife, this decision was reversed.

A message on O’Toole’s computer, dated the day before the death of Sgt Callanan, read that he “was to spend the day with my kids but because of evil hatred bastards in this cul-de-sac I told them goodbye, that they would never see me again. “I have nothing left. I did not do it no matter what [another person] says and I have as much right to see my kids.” The court was told that in the early hours of the morning of the July 21, 1999, a neighbour would say he heard the accused drive off at speed in his car from his house and a petrol station attendant would say O’Toole bought approximately four litres of petrol and put them into two plastic canisters.

Mr Charleton said it was the prosecution’s case that O’Toole walked into the Garda station, set the public area alight, walked out and later rang gardai in Harcourt Square and asked about the guard injured in the conflagration. His mobile number was recorded at Harcourt Square when the telephone call was received and O’Toole was later contacted by gardai in connection with the killing.

He allegedly later told gardai he “committed a terrible act” and that he had wanted to attack “the f**king system”. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of seven women and five men continues today.

Tallaght
Dalai Lama supports ‘pipes of peace’ group

THE Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, is the latest of nearly 250 well-known national and international figures to lend support to the creation of music and sports links between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

In a letter of support to those behind the initiative, The Dalai Lama wrote: “I strongly believe that such positive and creative efforts between communities are a constructive way of bringing about peace.

“A universal humanitarian approach to conflicts and problems seems the only sound basis for peace. As individuals we can contribute by developing the inner peace that comes of a kind heart, a sense of love, compassion and respect for others.” Tallaght resident, Eamonn Walsh is heading the initiative, launched last year, on behalf of Moy Valley branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ).

The second cross-border music, song, arts and sports weekend was due to take place in September in Ballina, Co Mayo. However, Mr Walsh explained: “We put it off on account of the foot- and-mouth until next year. A lot of people would be coming from the North.”

To date, 248 letters of support have been forwarded to Mr Walsh from sports, musical, religious and political leaders, including Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jack Charlton, Sonia O’Sullivan, Bob Geldof and David O’Leary. President Mary McAleese last year recognised the CCÉ initiative for peace when she welcomed the group to Aras An Uachtaráin.

She wrote: “Music, song, dance and sport all succeed in transcending barriers and help to promote a spirit of friendship and camaraderie which is an inherent part of our culture, and groups such as Comhaltas ... are to be commended for their involvement in this ideal.”

Ballyfermot
Corpo unveils £60m plan to revamp St Michael’s

PLANS for the £60m redevelopment of St Michael’s Estate have been described as a “milestone” by City Manager John Fitzgerald.

He made his comments at the official launch where local residents, political representatives and Corporation officials all packed into a room in the St Michael’s Parish Youth Project centre yesterday.

Mr Fitzgerald said the plans were the result of two years of work and that he hoped that the scheme would be completed by 2004.

“It is worth taking the time and patience to get it right for the people out here and the children,” he said. Project manager Mary Taylor said that the Corporation is fully committed to the regeneration of St Michael’s Estate. She urged tenants to come up and view the plans during the coming week.

“The plans are not written in stone, they can be changed. Let us know what you think,” she reassured residents. The official launch was carried out by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Maurice Ahern.

“This is an important step in the progress for redevelopment and is a sign of the Corporation’s commitment to getting it right,” said Cllr Ahern.

“The refurbishment will include a wide range of services including much needed childcare facilities. “I urge everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and let the Corporation know what you think.” The exhibition will be on view in Inchicore College of Further Education from June 18.

The decision to demolish St Michael’s was made in 1998 and the Corporation plans to build 320 housing units comprising a mix of houses, duplexes and apartments in its place.

The scheme will include affordable, voluntary and private housing as well as tenancy homes.

The first phase of construction is under way with the building of 50 units of accommodation on Goldenbridge Convent lands and 51 senior citizen units at Bulfin Road.

In addition to the redeveloped housing, the Corporation is proposing services and facilities for the community. These include the setting aside of land for a multipurpose sports hall for the use of the local community and the nearby Inchicore College of Further Education. Funding has also been secured for an all weather pitch beside the hall. The Goldenbridge Convent will also be used as an integrated services complex. Due to open in the Autumn, the complex will offer services such as Dublin Corporation Estate Management, Local Employment Service, Canal Community Partnership and the VEC Adult Literacy service.

The Corporation is also proposing to develop a state-of-the-art civic, health and community facility at the health centre on Emmet Road.

Lucan
Thugs wreak havoc in local housing estate
THUGS attacked four houses, damaged 11 cars and threw a lump hammer into the back wall of a bedroom on Dromheath estate on the bank holiday weekend.

And in recent weeks, two members of a family were stabbed on Parslickstown estate during an early morning home attack. And there is widespread intimidation of prospective new tenants on some Dublin 15 estates, according to local councillors. “It will blow up in the next four weeks, if something is not done about it,” said Councillor Gerry Lynam. A weekly local consultation meeting between community leaders, gardai and residents has moved location because people were being intimidated from attending it, he said.

“People were not turning up to the ‘squealers’ meeting, that’s the reality,” he said. He pointed out that 53 per cent of the local population is aged less than 25 years of age. “There is nothing for them to do, to use up all that energy. It’s creating a massive problem,” he said. Cllr Margaret Richardson said people looking at council houses are having their cars surrounded by thugs and told not to take the houses.

“These are people who are living in our council houses. This cannot be allowed to happen,” she said. Cllr Michael O’Donovan said people on the housing list are saying to him they will not take the houses when offered. Cllr Joan Burton said at a meeting of Fingal County Council on June 7 that council estate officials cannot act as gardai. “We should have the Garda Commissioner in here to discuss this issue with the elected representatives of the people,” she said.

Council officials said there are now 11 staff working in the estate management section for Dublin 15, an increase from the previous total of eight workers.

Schemes of tenant participation have been established on five estates: White-chapel, Whitestown, Fortlawn, Sheepmoor, and Corduff Courts.

Last year, some 67 per cent of complaints in all of Fingal county related to anti-social behaviour on Dublin 15 estates. The situation is one which the council described as unacceptable.

Clondalkin
Fire forces treatment centre into new home

VANDALS are suspected of setting fire to a local office this week, forcing three vital services for recovering drug addicts to find another premises.

At about 6.30am last Monday, the alarm was raised at the Cumas and Cairdeas building, known as the Old Supermarket, in Neilstown shop centre.

A Honda scooter, which went on fire, had been placed up against the emergency exit at the side of the building. The fire quickly spread causing extensive smoke and heat damage, though actual fire damage was minimal. Co-ordinator Caroline Hendley says she has “no idea” how much it is going to cost to restore the office and it is not clear how long it will be closed.

For the past couple of days staff have been boxing up files and paperwork to take with them to their temporary home, which could be in the Neilstown Community Centre.

Ms Hendley says most of the files are salvageable as they were in metal filing cabinets. Usually Cumas and Cairdeas, along with Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme (CASP) hold groups, forum meetings and counselling services in the office, but a lot of these may now have to be cancelled.

Gardai at Ronanstown are investigating the fire though at present there is only a preliminary report and it has not yet been decided whether the blaze will be treated as malicious.

Reaction to the fire in the community has been strong with locals describing it as “a disgrace”. Senator Therese Ridge said she could not believe someone would cause such damage to a community building. “It is a slap in the face for people working there. These services save lives,” she said. The phone lines in the office were knocked out due to the fire but Ms Hendley says anyone with any queries can contact her on 087-2410574 or contact the Clondalkin Drugs Task Force on 4579444.