A LIMERICK man stabbed his neighbour to death in a "mindless, motiveless and pointless attack", a murder trial jury was told yesterday.
Mr Vincent Landy SC, prosecuting, told the jury at the Central Criminal Court that Mr Michael "Blackie" O'Callaghan stabbed Mr Johnny Collins in "a particularly savage attack".
Mr O'Callaghan (23), a father of one, of O'Malley Park, Limerick, has denied the murder of Mr Collins (30), at O'Malley Park on August 2nd 1994.
Mr Landy said the defendant and his partner, Ms Sandra Bermingham, lived opposite Mr Collins and his partner, Ms Michelle McMahon, in O'Malley Park and the couples were friendly with each other.
Mr Collins was sitting outside the front door of his house with some friends early on August 2nd 1994. Mr O'Callaghan appeared around 2 a.m. and spoke to Mr Collins. He then pulled a knife from inside his jacket and stabbed Mr Collins.
Mr Collins ran down the street and the defendant chased him and stabbed him again. Mr Landy said the knife used was never found. State pathologist, Dr John Harbison, would tell the jury Mr Collins died as a result of a number of stab wounds.
The defendant came to a Limerick Garda station on August 8th and made a written statement to gardai in which he denied stabbing Mr Collins.
Ms Michelle McMahon told the court Mr O'Callaghan was a regular visitor to their house. She went to bingo on the night of August 1st and when she returned Mr Collins and some friends were sitting outside the door.
She said Mr O'Callaghan arrived back at his house about 1 a.m. and went in. About 2 a.m. he came out and called Mr Collins over to the gate.
"Johnny was speaking to him and then he turned as if to go away and then he just stabbed him," she said. "I just saw the knife going into Johnny."
Witness said she heard Mr O'Callaghan saying to Mr Collins: "I'll kill you, you bastard."
She said the knife looked like a small kitchen knife and it had a black handle. Mr Collins ran away and got as far as the corner but Mr O'Callaghan stood over him and repeatedly stabbed him.
The trial before Mr Justice Geoghegan continues.