Andrew Burns murder trial continues

The trial of a Strabane man accused of murdering 27 year old Andrew Burns at Donneyloop in 2008 is continuing this afternoon at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
36 year old  bus driver Martin Kelly from Barrak Street in the town is accused of being part of a joint enterprise to lure Mr Burns from Strabane to Donnyloop, where he was shot twice.
Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The three judge non-jury court has heard that Mr Burns was shot twice in the back with the fatal gunshot penetrating his aorta, causing massive blood loss and death.
The three judge non-jury court has now begun hearing what’s been described as a “trial within a trial” on the admissibility of alleged statements made by Kelly while in garda custody in Letterkenny and during an interview in the North with two senior garda officers.
A defence barrister has told the court that the defence is challenging the arrest and detention of the accused at Letterkenny Garda Station. The defence is also challenging the admissibility of alleged statements made by Kelly on the grounds that they were not made voluntarily because of “inducements and threats” by members of the gardaí.
Mr Justice Paul Butler ordered that there be no reporting of the evidence in the “trial within a trial” until the court has decided on the legal issues.