Witnesses told a murder trial yesterday that a crowd of onlookers watched as a gang of youths attacked a young man who was stabbed to death in a fight in Thomas Street, Dublin, in 1998.
A Dublin man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a Liverpool man who was working in Dublin. The jury was told the DPP refused a plea of manslaughter.
Mr Alan Lyons (20), of Bonham Street, Dublin, has admitted he killed Mr David Watson (21), of James's Court, Echlin Street, Dublin, in a stabbing at Thomas Street on April 25th, 1998, but denies murder.
Mr Patrick Marrinan SC told a jury that the prosecution would argue that the killing was a very clear case of intent to kill or cause serious injury.
He told them the deceased, Mr Watson, had left his workplace, D Tyres, at 6 p.m. to do a job in Artane.
He was three times over the legal drink-driving limit when he fell asleep at traffic lights in Thomas Street at about midnight.
He was awakened by two males and a girl who suggested he pull up at the other side of the lights. There, Mr Watson again fell asleep at the wheel.
Minutes later four youths, including the accused, opened the side door of the mobile service van Mr Watson was in and began to remove items from the back.
Mr Marrinan said Mr Watson awoke, then got out of the car and appeared to strike Mr Lyons.
"With that, he was set upon by the four youths," counsel said. One of the youths went over and shouted down Bridgefoot Street in the direction of the Oliver Bond flats for assistance. More people arrived, and it appeared that Mr Watson was then "set upon by a gang of local youths".
The pubs were emptying by this time and a lot of local people were standing looking on.
Mr Watson was unarmed and alone and under attack from a number of local youths. Two "brave local women" tried to intervene, but to no avail. One girl took up a wheel brace that had been removed from Mr Watson's van and struck him on the forehead with it. One of the two women who had tried to intervene went to remonstrate with the girl and the woman was herself attacked.
Mr Watson was again set upon and forced back into the middle of the road.
Counsel alleged he was then confronted by the accused, Mr Lyons. "Alan Lyons took a knife from his pocket and stabbed Mr Watson in the chest, just below the collar bone, in a downward movement," he said.
The case continues in the Central Criminal Court today before Mr Justice Smith and a jury.