A CONVICTED murderer serving a life sentence for the brutal killing of Limerick businessman Roy Collins in 2009 will not stand trial for the murder of 20-year-old James Cronin after the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to proceed with the trial.
It was alleged that Nathan Killeen (24) of Hyde Road, Prospect, Limerick killed James Cronin in an execution-style murder between April 5 and April 7, 2008.
James Cronin’s body was found buried in a shallow grave near Caledonian Park in Ballinacurra Weston with a single gun shot wound to the head.
Killeen, who is serving a life for the murder of Roy Collins on April 9, 2009, acted as the getaway driver for James Dillion who shot the innocent business man at Coin Castle Amusements arcade in the Roxboro Shopping Centre.
Roy Collins was murdered in revenge for his family giving evidence against Wayne Dundon after he threatened to kill a member of the family when Dundon’s 14 year-old sister was refused entry to Brannigans pub.
This Tuesday morning at the three judge non jury Special Criminal Court, prosecution counsel entered a “nolle prosequi” – a decision not to proceed – on the murder charge when the case was called before the court.
In July of last year, the court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had indicated that Killeen was to be tried before the non-jury court as the normal courts were deemed not suitable to hear the case.
The 24-year-old was remanded in custody after Detective Garda Christine Bergin served him with the papers in the case.
Killeen replied “it’s a stitch up” when charged.
The murder of James Cronin was believed to have been carried out by the McCarthy Dundon gang as they feared he was going to make a statement to Gardaí in relation to the murder of Mark Moloney in Garryowen a few days earlier.
James Cronin was suspected of being involved in that murder but nobody was charged with the killing.
