A 21-year-old Limerick man charged with murdering a school teacher who was beaten to death has told a court how he wrestled an iron bar away from his co-accused.
Darren Wallace was giving direct evidence yesterday in the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Wallace, Assumpta Park, Lee Estate, Limerick, denies the murder of 42-year-old Noel Carmody at Arthur's Quay Park, Limerick, on September 27th, 2003.
Co-accused Johnathan Tuohy, Edward Street, Limerick, has also pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Carmody.
Both accused also deny robbing the victim on the same date.
Darren Wallace told the court how he had gone to Arthur's Quay Park with Johnathan Tuohy on September 27th. When they arrived in the park, he said they saw two men involved in a sexual act in the bushes.
One of the men ran off and the other man appeared to have words with Johnathan Tuohy, the court heard.
Darren Wallace said Johnathan Tuohy went into a rage and started hitting Noel Carmody with an iron bar. Mr Carmody fell to the ground and while Johnathan Tuohy had the bar over his head, Darren Wallace caught it and threw it on the ground.
He said he knew Mr Carmody was badly injured and he knew he should have phoned the gardaí, but he didn't think to do it.
The accused told Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, defending, that it took him a while to get Johnathan Tuohy off Mr Carmody and that he shouted at him twice to stop.
Mr O'Carroll asked the accused to explain to the court what he was doing while Mr Carmody was being beaten.
"I was just looking at the man. I didn't know what to do. It was all a shock to me. I didn't do anything to help that man," he said.
The accused also said he didn't strike Mr Carmody at any stage.
When asked by Mr O'Carroll to explain how his clothes were splattered with Noel Carmody's blood, the accused man said it must have happened when he took the bar away from Johnathan Tuohy.
Earlier, the trial heard evidence that when the gardaí arrived at Arthur's Quay Park, Darren Wallace was seen "crouching" over the badly beaten body of Mr Carmody.
Forensic evidence was also heard that Darren Wallace's fingerprints were found on an iron bar recovered at the scene.
Gardaí gave further evidence that a Visa receipt and a bus ticket belonging to Mr Carmody were found in his possession.
The trial continues.