A Dublin man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of another man with a billhook during a fracas in Finglas in 1996.
Mr David McDonagh (44), St Joseph's Park, Dunsink, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Timothy Joyce (46), Lydd Caravan Site, Romney Marshes, Kent, on November 9th, 1996 at St Helena's Drive, Finglas, Dublin.
He also pleaded not guilty to charges of violent disorder and possession of a billhook intended to cause injury or to be used in intimidation at St Helena's Drive on the same date.
Opening the case, Mr Gregory Murphy SC, prosecuting, told the jury the case concerned a number of Travellers who had arrived from the UK to attend a funeral in the midlands.
He said that while making their way back, their boat was delayed and so they decided to go drinking in a bar in Finglas.
It was there a melee broke out, during which Mr Joyce was killed with a billhook.
Mr Murphy told the jury "there was bad blood between the McDonaghs and other members of the Travelling community" and it was the State's case that there was bad blood between the Joyces and the McDonaghs which led to the melee which broke out in the pub.
Mr Murphy said the case would be straightforward as there were no forensics and prosecution witnesses would say they saw the defendant strike the deceased in the neck with the slash hook.
The only question for the jury was if it was indeed the defendant who used the slash hook to kill Mr Joyce on that date, prosecution counsel said.
The defence agreed that Mr Joyce died as a result of his injuries in the attack, Mr Murphy said, and the State Pathologist would not be required to give evidence.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Carney and a jury.