Charles Bowden (criminal)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bowden is a convicted Irish
criminal, who after turning state's witness in the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin
, was the first person to enter the Republic of Ireland
's witness protection programme.
Born in Finglas
, Dublin, he left school and joined the Irish Army
. Rising to the rank of corporal
, he gained a black belt in Karate
, but was dishonourably discharged after beating up a new recruit.
Having separated from his first wife and two children, and unable to pay child support
, he met one of Dublin's major ecstasy dealers in a gym in Buckingham Street. Working as a doorman at the Hogan Stand public house
, he started selling drugs for the gang. Leaving his doorman's job, he began distributing cannabis
across Dublin for John Gilligan's gang, becoming the gangs quartermaster
.
Bowden cleaned and loaded the Colt Python
with .357 Magnum
Semiwadcutter
bullets used to kill Veronica Guerin, which he believed would only be used by Patrick "Dutchy" Holland
to threaten her. After the murder of Guerin, Bowden like the other members of Gilligan's gang that were still in Ireland was arrested. In an agreement with the Attorney General of Ireland
, he agreed to turn state's witness, and become the first person to enter the Republic of Ireland's witness protection programme. Granted complete immunity from prosecution for the murder of Guerin, he was the only witness to give evidence against all four drug gang members at their trials in the Special Criminal Court
: Patrick Holland; Paul Ward; Brian Meehan; and John Gilligan.
Bowden was subsequently prosecuted and found guilty for drugs and firearms offences. Sentenced to six years in jail, under armed protection in prison he was held in a special secure four-cell unit at Arbour Hill Prison
, alongside John Dunne
and Russell Warren
, who also gave evidence against the drug gang members.
It was confirmed in April 2001 by the Attorney General of Ireland's office, that Bowden had been released from jail. Following discussions with foreign state witness protection programmes, Bowden and his second wife Juliet Bacon had been relocated abroad. The family had been provided with a house, the mortgage for which was to be paid by the Irish State, and Bowden was given a job comparable to his abilities and education. It is an offence under Irish law
to try to contact him or publish his whereabouts.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
criminal, who after turning state's witness in the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin
Veronica Guerin
Veronica Guerin was an Irish crime reporter who was murdered on 26 June 1996 by drug lords, an event which, alongside the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe three weeks earlier, helped establish the Criminal Assets Bureau....
, was the first person to enter the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's witness protection programme.
Born in Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, Dublin, he left school and joined the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
. Rising to the rank of corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, he gained a black belt in Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, but was dishonourably discharged after beating up a new recruit.
Having separated from his first wife and two children, and unable to pay child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
, he met one of Dublin's major ecstasy dealers in a gym in Buckingham Street. Working as a doorman at the Hogan Stand public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, he started selling drugs for the gang. Leaving his doorman's job, he began distributing cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
across Dublin for John Gilligan's gang, becoming the gangs quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
.
Bowden cleaned and loaded the Colt Python
Colt Python
The Colt Python is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver formerly manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It is sometimes referred to as a "Combat Magnum". It was first introduced in 1955, the same year as Smith & Wesson's M29 .44 Magnum. The now discontinued Colt Python...
with .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
Semiwadcutter
Semiwadcutter
A semiwadcutter or SWC is a type of all-purpose bullet commonly used in revolvers. The SWC combines features of the wadcutter target bullet and traditional round nosed revolver bullets, and is used in both revolver and pistol cartridges for hunting, target shooting, and plinking...
bullets used to kill Veronica Guerin, which he believed would only be used by Patrick "Dutchy" Holland
Patrick Holland (criminal)
Patrick Eugene "Dutchy" Holland , was a career Irish criminal, best known for being the first person accused of killing Irish investigative journalist Veronica Guerin, which he denied until his death in prison in England....
to threaten her. After the murder of Guerin, Bowden like the other members of Gilligan's gang that were still in Ireland was arrested. In an agreement with the Attorney General of Ireland
Attorney General of Ireland
The Attorney General is a constitutional officer who is the official adviser to the Government of Ireland in matters of law. He is in effect the chief law officer in Ireland. The Attorney General is not a member of the Government but does participate in cabinet meetings when invited and attends...
, he agreed to turn state's witness, and become the first person to enter the Republic of Ireland's witness protection programme. Granted complete immunity from prosecution for the murder of Guerin, he was the only witness to give evidence against all four drug gang members at their trials in the Special Criminal Court
Special Criminal Court
The Special Criminal Court is a juryless criminal court in the Republic of Ireland which tries terrorist and organized crime cases. Article 38 of the Constitution of Ireland empowers the Dáil to establish "special courts" with wide-ranging powers when "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure...
: Patrick Holland; Paul Ward; Brian Meehan; and John Gilligan.
Bowden was subsequently prosecuted and found guilty for drugs and firearms offences. Sentenced to six years in jail, under armed protection in prison he was held in a special secure four-cell unit at Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill Prison is a prison and military cemetery located in the Arbour Hill area near Heuston Station in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. The prison is the national centre for male sex offenders.-Architecture:...
, alongside John Dunne
John Dunne
John Dunne may refer to:*John Dunne *John Gregory Dunne , American author*John William Dunne , British engineer and author of An Experiment with Time...
and Russell Warren
Russell Warren
Russell Warren is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman, a wicketkeeper and an occasional right-arm offbreak bowler....
, who also gave evidence against the drug gang members.
It was confirmed in April 2001 by the Attorney General of Ireland's office, that Bowden had been released from jail. Following discussions with foreign state witness protection programmes, Bowden and his second wife Juliet Bacon had been relocated abroad. The family had been provided with a house, the mortgage for which was to be paid by the Irish State, and Bowden was given a job comparable to his abilities and education. It is an offence under Irish law
Law of the Republic of Ireland
The law of the Republic of Ireland consists of constitutional, statute and common law. The highest law in the Republic is the Constitution of Ireland, from which all other law derives its authority...
to try to contact him or publish his whereabouts.