Father and son deny role in Kildare's 'body in a suitcase' murder

A father and son have denied roles surrounding the murder of a man whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase in a canal in Celbridge nearly three years ago.

Paul Wells Senior, 50, from Barnamore Park, Finglas, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kenneth O’Brien, 33, on or around January 15 or 16, 2016.

His son Paul Wells Junior, 32, from Beatty Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to impeding the prosecution of another person on or around January 15 or 16, 2016.

It’s alleged the murder of Mr O’Brien took place at the address of Paul Wells Senior – at Barnamore Park in Finglas.

O’Brien, a JCB driver, was reported missing on January 15, 2016, after he left his home telling family members he was going to work.

The father-of-one had recently come back from Australia where he had been employed for three years.

The following day his torso was found in a suitcase by walkers at the Grand Canal near Celbridge.

Investigating gardai carried out a search operation resulting in other body parts being found in bags in the canal in Sallins while other evidence linked to the murder was found in a lake in the Curragh plains.

DNA tests confirmed the remains were those of Mr O’Brien.

Mr Justice Michael White told a jury 12 that the case would last for at least six weeks and they were to make themselves available until the start of December at the earliest, the Irish Sun reports today.

He also told them they shouldn’t serve if they knew either of the men or the victim Kenneth O’Brien, who was originally from Clondalkin.

The case was then transferred to another court room, where evidence is due to begin tomorrow morning once legal argument has completed.