The friend of a man who was allegedly murdered told the Central Criminal Court, sitting for the first time in Waterford, how he found his friend lying in a pool of blood at his home in Co Waterford.
Anthony Barnes (20), Clonard Road, Ballybeg, Waterford city, has pleaded guilty to trespassing and burglary but not guilty to the murder of Richard Forristal at his home in Carrigavantry stud, Co Waterford, on July 21st last.
Mr Forristal's body was discovered shortly after he had returned from the funeral of Tara Whelan, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Turkey four days previously.
Louis Murphy (81), the man who discovered Mr Forristal's body, explained to the court how he had been friends with him for almost 50 years.
He had been living with Mr Forristal at his residence at Carrigavantry in the six months leading up to his death.
He had moved out on the previous Monday, July 18th, as Mr Forristal's nephew was to move in. Mr Murphy described his friend as being a strong man in great health.
On the morning in question, both men had travelled to Piltown where Mr Forristal's horses, Blue Carrig and Carrigavantry, were being cared for. They had met Joe Crowley there at about 10.30am, the court was told.
The men left at 11.45am and made their way to the funeral, returning to Carrigavantry stud at about 1.45 pm. Mr Walsh dropped Mr Forristal at his home before leaving to collect another man, John Kent.
They had planned to return and have lunch with Mr Forristal at his house.
However, upon returning at 2.25pm, about 20 minutes later, Mr Murphy discovered the horse breeder lying inside the doorway of his house. He noticed that he was "lying out straight as a die".
"I couldn't open the door . . . I had to get in," Mr Murphy said, before breaking down in tears.
"I got in and saw the hole in Dick's stomach," he added. "I got both of my hands in his hands and they were wobbling . . . I knew it was over."
Mr Murphy was under cross-examination from Jeremy Maher SC for Mr Barnes.
Gardaí were notified and arrived at the scene. Mr Forristal was pronounced dead by Dr Ann Marie Burke at 3.04pm.
Giving evidence on the second day of the murder trial, Det Sgt David Walsh from Waterford Garda station said: "He admitted breaking in and killing a man by stabbing him."
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury.