A Dublin man accused of murder confessed to gardai he stabbed a man with a steak knife, a Central Criminal Court jury was told yesterday. Mr Gerald (or Gerard) Dunne (26), of Drimnagh, has denied murdering Mr Liam Thompson (20) of Firhouse on January 27th, 1999, at Dolphin's Road, Dublin.
Det Sgt Christopher Mangen said he had been present on January 28th, 1999, when two statements, alleged to have been made by the accused, were made. Mr Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, read aloud from both statements.
In the first, Mr Dunne allegedly told gardai he was assaulted by well-dressed men as he and a friend were telephoning his ex-girlfriend from a public telephone box.
They "sort of clashed together" and (Dunne's friend) "stabbed the guy in the side", it said. Sgt Mangen said Dunne then made a second statement, alleging his friend handed him the knife and that he stabbed Mr Thompson himself.
The trial continues.