State's case "riddled with doubts and unanswered questions", defence tell tiger kidnap trial

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defence barrister in a tiger kidnapping trial has submitted that the State's case against Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, is fundamentally flawed. Martin O'Rourke SC argued that gardaí investigating the matter had adopted a fixed view of his client and ignored a potentially fruitful line of inquiry into another man who could have participated in the offence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian lodger at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, and to robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton the same day. The defence contended that no identification parade was conducted and that up to twelve civilian witnesses with relevant descriptions were not called to give evidence. Mr O'Rourke submitted that the DNA evidence was equivocal and invited the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all counts.