A man was killed in a violent assault by two men who mistook him for a man they thought was a child molester, a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
Mr Kenneth Mills, prosecuting, told the jury at the Central Criminal Court that Mr John Murray was "violently assaulted" around the head and upper body and died from his injuries. He was "a most unfortunate man".
Mr Stephen Doyle (24), of Balcurris Road, Ballymun and Mr William Broderick (22), of Cathedral View Walk pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Murray at a house at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin on January 15th, 1998.
Mr Mills said Ms Caroline O'Connor lived at the house and around 4 a.m. she was with a woman friend watching videos. When she answered a bang on the door the two accused and two other men came in. Mr Murray was upstairs at the time.
Mr Doyle was aggressive and pushed in past her. He had been Ms O'Connor's partner and they had had a daughter, although they had since broken up. Mr Doyle had a fixation that his daughter had been molested by a boyfriend of Ms O'Connor.
In her direct evidence, Ms O'Connor said Mr Murray was a friend of the other woman. She had never met him before. When she opened door "Mr Doyle said `I told you I would get you' ". At one point Mr Doyle punched Ms O'Connor in the face. He went upstairs where the men were.
As the men left the house one of them said: "You'd better get an ambulance, he's in a real bad way up there". The trial continues today.