Murder accused told me of row, says brother

The man accused of murdering Kilrush woman Ann Walsh phoned his brother on the night she died to tell him "I've done something terribly wrong", the Central Criminal Court in Ennis heard yesterday.

Seán Donovan (34) said that his brother Raymond phoned him at 10.30pm on August 24th last to tell him that he had a row with Ms Walsh (23) and "put his hands to her throat to stop her shouting".

Raymond Donovan (24) denies the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Ms Walsh, at Toler Street, Kilrush, on August 24th, 2005.

On the second day of the trial, Seán Donovan said that he thought first from the phone call that his brother was going to commit suicide and that it was another cry for help.

Seán Donovan said that his brother tried to commit suicide one month before Ms Walsh's death and had tried to kill himself on another occasion by slitting his throat and wrists.

Garda Michael Ryan told the court that at the scene where Ms Walsh's body was found in the grounds of St Senan's Church, he briefly interviewed Raymond Donovan and asked what happened. Garda Ryan said: "Raymond Donovan told me 'We were having sex and she started scratching and shouting. I put my two hands on her throat until she stopped. I didn't mean to harm her. I'll hang myself and do a proper job this time'."

Seán Donovan told the court that earlier on the evening of the 24th, his brother asked to be signed into Our Lady's psychiatric hospital.

Seán Donovan told the court: "He never asked me to do this before. It came out of the blue and quick as he asked, he changed the subject." The court heard that Raymond Donovan and Ms Walsh were out drinking on August 24th and a barman had seen them hugging and kissing at Crotty's bar that evening.

In court yesterday, a number of witnesses gave evidence that the two were seen having an argument outside the pub after 9.30pm.

Seán Donovan told the court that he drove to Kilrush after 10.30pm to meet Raymond. On meeting the accused, Seán Donovan told the court that his younger brother "was out of it, he was distant, had a funny stare and scratches to his face". Seán Donovan said that he walked to the back of the grounds of St Senan's Church on Toler Street where he found Ms Walsh's partially clothed body.

Cross-examined by John Edwards SC, for the accused, Seán Donovan said that Raymond was crying and distraught. "I gave him a hug and told him that people were coming to sort it out."

The trial continues today.