One of the accused in the Brian Murphy manslaughter trial lied in his Garda statement because he didn't want to be blamed for the serious part of the fight that led to the death of the 18-year-old student, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Mr Andrew Frame made a statement to gardaí at his home on August 31st, 2000, hours after Brian Murphy died in St Vincent's Hospital following a fight outside the Burlington Hotel.
He never mentioned having any confrontation with the deceased but said he just saw him being carried across the road after he (Mr Frame) was punched to the back of the head and on both cheeks.
He also said that the only time he raised his fists was when another person came towards him blaming him for the fight about 10 minutes after Mr Murphy was knocked to the ground.
Mr Frame was arrested on September 26th, 2000, and was interviewed twice in Harcourt Terrace Garda Station. He told gardaí he was pushed about three times by "a guy in a red shirt" after he went over to the group who were slagging him.
He said he may have punched him once as he tried to defend himself and now knew this person to be Brian Murphy.
He told gardaí in his second interview that he didn't tell the truth in his earlier statement because he didn't want to be blamed for the "more serious part of the fight".
Mr Frame (22), from Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, Mr Sean Mackey (23), from South Park, Foxrock, Mr Desmond Ryan (22), from Cunningham Road, Dalkey, all Co Dublin, and Mr Dermot Laide (22), from Rossvale, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 18-year-old Mr Murphy at Sussex Road on August 31st, 2000.
The four former Blackrock College students have also denied committing violent disorder by using or threatening to use unlawful violence on the same date.
Insp Flor Murphy said he arrested Mr Frame at his home on September 26th, 2000 and took him to Harcourt Terrace Garda Station, where he was interviewed twice throughout the day.
Mr Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, read out to the court accounts of those two interviews.
In the first statement Mr Frame admitted going over to a group of Clongowes Wood College students who were laughing at him. Mr Frame said he ended up squaring up to "the guy in the red shirt", who pushed him about three times. He then got hit on the back of the head. Mr Frame said when he regained his balance he just saw the deceased being carried across the road.
In the second interview, Mr Frame said he pushed Brian Murphy and may have hit him in the face to try and get him away but after he (Mr Frame) got hit, Mr Laide and Mr Mackey tried to sort out the fight and looked prepared to defend themselves.
Mr Frame said that when he regained his balance he saw Mr Laide, Mr Mackey and Mr Ryan standing around Brian Murphy while he was on the ground but he did not see anyone punch or kick him. He also said Mr Laide later admitted to him that he had punched Brian Murphy to the ground. He was very upset.
The trial continues before Judge Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.