A 27-year-old Cork man was lured to his death and beaten with a hurley before his body was discovered near Blackrock Castle in Cork city, a murder trial jury heard at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Mr Martin O'Leary (27), Nutley Road, Mahon, Cork, and Mr Philip Dorney (25), Nutley Avenue, Mahon, Cork, have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Derek O'Connell at Blackrock Castle on September 15th, 2002.
Mr O'Leary and Mr Dorney denied six and seven counts respectively of intimidation of potential witnesses, with the intention of interfering with the murder investigation, at Nutley Avenue on the same date.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Patrick J. McCarthy SC told the jury that the victim's death "was caused by the use of a hurley". He said there was a significant number of people at Blackrock Castle at the time of the murder.
He said the deceased and Mr O'Leary were seen walking in the direction of the castle "at the time when the murder was committed".
"Mr O'Connell was invited by Mr O'Leary to come for a walk," Mr McCarthy told the jury. "A walk which led to his death." Mr O'Connell's badly beaten body was later discovered in an overgrown area in the vicinity of Blackrock Castle by a group of teenagers at around 7 p.m. that evening, he said.
He told the jury of six men and six women that Mr O'Leary was responsible for the actual "infliction of the physical injuries" on Mr O'Connell and that Mr Dorney was not in the area at the time. He explained that although Mr Dorney was not there, the murder was "a common or joint enterprise".
It will also be alleged that Mr Dorney handed Mr O'Leary a knife, which was "evidence to show his hostility towards Mr O'Connell", according to Mr McCarthy.
On the intimidation charges against the accused, Mr McCarthy said, "the prosecution alleges the threatening of witnesses occurred in relation to the charge of murder."
The jury will begin hearing evidence before Mr Justice White tomorrow. The trial is expected to last up to three weeks.