A Kilkenny man whose legs were amputated after an assault told gardai he tried to escape from his attacker, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Mr Paul Barry said he remembered getting over a wall but was caught by Mr Thomas O'Grady. Mr Barry's legs were badly burned and he lost a finger to burn injuries.
Cross-examined by Mr Anthony Sammon SC, Mr Barry agreed he had not claimed that Mr O'Grady had beaten him with a rock or had thrown him on to a fire until he gave evidence to the court.
It was the third day of the trial of Mr O'Grady (20) of Fatima Place, Kilkenny, who has denied trying to murder Mr Barry (29) on October 10th, 1999, in Kilkenny.
He has also denied injuring Mr Barry's head and burning his legs. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Grady twice attacked Mr Barry after a late-night drinking session with local youths.
Mr Barry agreed that in his initial statement he said Mr O'Grady was the last person with him at the party and Mr O'Grady had burned him. He also agreed that in his second statement to gardai he alleged Mr O'Grady kicked him in the face and he had noticed Mr O'Grady's spiky hair.
Mr Sammon said Mr O'Grady's head was shaven then. Mr Barry replied: "I just told you that he had spiky hair."
He agreed he had said someone had set fire to his shoe and thrown it at him and when he asked Mr O'Grady who did it he replied: "Mind your own f. . .g business."
Mr O'Grady poured beer on his face and burned his head with a lighter. He tried to get away but Mr O'Grady kept saying: "I'm just buzzin' with you."
He agreed he had more than 30 convictions, including for assaulting gardai and for larceny.
Witness Ms Georgette O'Carroll said she was at the drinks party and saw a row develop between Mr Paul Barry and a youth, Peter Phelan.
Mr Barry had been crying and Peter jumped on him and punched him in the mouth. Mr O'Grady broke up the fight and told Peter to leave Mr Barry alone. Mr Barry was crying later when a youth named Mark Owens punched him in the mouth and said: "Right, now you can shut your mouth." Ms O'Carroll said after the party she left with Mr O'Grady and went home alone. Mr Barry was asleep in the field.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Andrias O Caoimh and a jury.