Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr "effectively delivered" a longtime employee, who is now in the Witness Protection Programme, into the arms of a group of men who falsely imprisoned him and his family, a prosecution barrister has told the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
Mr Mansfield (53), of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court charged with conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and with attempting to pervert the course of justice five years ago.
The accused man is charged with conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1st, 2015 and June 30th, 2015, both dates inclusive. This is contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
He is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, with the alleged intention of perverting the course of public justice in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co Dublin between June 9, 2015 and June 12, 2015.
Mr Mansfield has pleaded not guilty to both counts on the indictment.
Dressed in a black-coloured suit, white shirt and dark tie, Mr Mansfield attended the three-judge court today with two members of his family.
Falsely imprisoned
Opening the State's case today, Shane Costelloe SC told the non-jury court that all the allegations pertain to events in or around June 9th, 2015. Outlining the facts of the case, Mr Costelloe said the State alleges that Martin Byrne, his wife Lisa Byrne and their son Brandon Byrne were falsely imprisoned by a group of men on this date. "By way of background, these men have all since been dealt with by this court," he added.
Detailing the evidence that will be heard, Mr Costelloe said it is alleged that Martin Byrne was "effectively delivered up" by Mr Mansfield into the arms of a group of men who falsely imprisoned him and ultimately also falsely imprisoned his wife and son.
The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Alexander Owens presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan.
In April 2019, Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare, who was known as "The Border Fox", was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. The sentences were to run concurrently.
The 63-year-old, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh, admitted to assaulting Mr Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin on June 9th, 2015. O'Hare also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date.
Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years imprisonment in 2018 after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9th, 2015. He also admitted falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole/Saggart on the same date.
