The jury in a Kildare murder trial has been shown a handgun and silencer that were buried in a wooded area behind the accused man’s house.

James Lammon of Cardington Way in Athy denies shooting 22-year-old Jason Doogue outside a house in Athy on August 21st last year.

Garda Mairead Lacey said she searched the land behind James Lammon’s home a few days after the shooting.

While walking through an area known locally as Shaw’s Wood, she said she saw a small circular hole that was three quarters full of soil.

She said she found a bag with a small handgun and a silver silencer buried underneath. Both were shown to the jury this afternoon.

She said there were three brass coloured bullets inside the magazine and the court heard it went off when another Garda picked it up.

Two rifles, a shotgun, a bag of tablets, some ammunition and a pair of latex gloves were also found in the area.

Mr. Lammon is accused of shooting Jason Doogue while he sat on a wall outside a friend’s house in the Greenhills estate in Athy.

The prosecution believes he murdered him following an argument in the town earlier that day.

The 44-year-old denies the charge.