Scott Capper pleads not guilty to violent disorder during attack on prison inmate
Capper (29) is charged over an incident in which Robert O’Connor (34) was ‘ganged up on’ and beaten by several prisoners
Scott Capper
Robert O'Connor died in Mountjoy Prison
A DUBLIN man has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison during an attack on an inmate who later died in a separate assault in the jail.
Scott Capper (29) is charged over an incident in which Robert O’Connor (34) was "ganged up on" and beaten by several prisoners.
Two days later, Mr O’Connor was allegedly assaulted by someone else and subsequently died from injuries sustained in that assault.
Mr Capper, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin is facing trial accused of violent disorder on July 27, 2022.
The DPP had directed the case could only be dealt with at Dublin District Court on a guilty plea.
Robert O'Connor died in Mountjoy Prison
Defence solicitor Brian Tunney said Mr Capper was pleading not guilty.
Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case for the preparation of a book of evidence. The accused will be sent forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when the book is ready.
Mr Capper was not required to address the brief hearing today and was remanded on continuing bail, to appear in court again in January.
Two other men have already been sentenced after pleading guilty to violent disorder in the same incident.
Earlier this year, William Ward (31), of Grantstown Mews, Waterford, was jailed for five months and Dylan Jones (22) of Beech Drive, Greenfields, Waterford, was sentenced to six months in prison.
At their case, the court was told officers responded to shouting coming from a cell on D Landing at Mountjoy at 7.10pm on July 27 last year.
Read more
The door was being held shut by inmates and the prison guards forced entry, seeing Ward and Jones kicking a prisoner who was lying on the ground in a “foetal position.”
The victim was found to be bleeding from the face and his right eye was not reacting normally to light when he was examined by prison medics.
He refused to go to hospital and did not make a complaint.
The victim was “unfortunately subject to a separate assault” two days later that did not involve any of those charged over the July 27 violent disorder, Gda Raymond Lee said. Mr O'Connor had died later as a result of injuries sustained in the July 29 assault.
Another man, David Dunne (39) of Boroimhe Birches, Swords, has previously been before the courts charged with Mr O'Connor's murder arising from that alleged assault.
