picture uploader. A man serving a life sentence for murder told the Special Criminal Court that he has gotten “a world of misery” for making a statement against his first cousin, who is on trial charged with the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins.

Anthony “Noddy” McCarthy was today (Thursday) cross-examined after giving evidence in the trial of Wayne Dundon (36), of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect and Nathan Killeen (24) of Hyde Road, Prospect, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35-year-old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre on April 9, 2009.

McCarthy (32) is serving a life sentence for the murder of Kieran Keane in Limerick in January 2003. His brother Christopher McCarthy (31) gave evidence at the trial last week.

In his direct evidence McCarthy told the court that while they were in Wheatfield prison together on the morning of Roy Collins’ murder, his first cousin Wayne Dundon told him he had “ordered James Dillon to go kill Roy Collins”.

Under cross-examination by counsel for Wayne Dundon, Mr Remy Farrell SC, McCarthy said it would not surprise him that other witnesses in the case had said the target of the attack was Steve Collins, the father of Roy Collins.

Put to him that Gareth Collins had told the court Wayne Dundon tried to “strong arm him” in to participating in the shooting of Steve Collins and the prosecution case was that this was a plan to kill Steve Collins, yet in his evidence the witness was aware Roy Collins was the target before it even happened, McCarthy said that he heard “Roy Collins”.

He told Mr Farrell this was not a mistake on his part and was not a lie he had made up, adding: “if it was we wouldn’t make these mistakes would we”.

Mr Farrell put it to McCarthy that he was somebody in a “desperate situation in prison” who would “dangle tidbits in front of the guards” and who only had his own interest.

McCarthy replied that it was “not only ridiculous, it’s very insulting” to suggest he would put his own life and the lives of his family in danger to “make it look good” for his prison programme.

When asked in re-examination by counsel for the prosecution, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, if he had gotten anything in return for making his statement, McCarthy replied: “Yeah, a world of misery”.

Asked if there had been any improvement in his circumstances in prison, McCarthy replied: “No, everything has gotten worse for men and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better”.

The trial continues before presiding judge Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley.