A man accused of murdering his neighbour has admitted stabbing him but claimed he lost "total self-control" following an argument with the deceased, Mr Noel McCarthy, on the night of the killing.
When he took the stand in the Central Criminal Court yesterday Mr Keith O'Donovan said he pushed in Mr McCarthy's door and stabbed him. He told the court that Mr McCarthy had been at the O'Donovan house twice that night threatening to cut his throat and that of a co-accused, Mr James Hourigan.
Mr O'Donovan said an argument arose earlier that night when he and Mr Hourigan were refused entry into the deceased man's house after they returned from the pub at closing time. There was a scuffle outside Mr McCarthy's house.
"It turned into a stupid argument that I'll always regret," he told the jury. "My life is a disaster since. I wish I could swap places [with Noel McCarthy\]."
Mr Keith O'Donovan (29), of Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, and Mr James Hourigan (32), of Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy (28) on May 4th, 2000, at his home at Spriggs Road, Cork.
The accused told the court he and Mr Hourigan had been drinking in Cork city on the day of the killing and had arranged to bring a few drinks back to the McCarthy house. When they arrived, Mr McCarthy refused to let them in because there were too many others in the house.
In evidence, the accused agreed he was annoyed as he had bought drink for Mr McCarthy throughout the previous weekend. The court heard that after the initial scuffle Mr McCarthy went up to the O'Donovan house and began shouting. The second accused, Mr Hourigan. admitted hitting him over the head with a bottle.
Mr O'Donovan told the court that when Mr McCarthy returned a second time, his young son was terrified and wet himself with fear. "I just lost control of myself. I grabbed the knife and I ran down and I blew in the door and I stabbed him," he said.
Under cross-examination, the accused denied he went after Mr McCarthy "to sort him out" because he was resentful about not being let in. Mr John Edwards SC, prosecuting, put it to the accused that when he went after the deceased he "intended to cause serious harm and possibly kill Mr McCarthy".
"No way," the accused replied.
The trial continues today.