A Waterford man who denies murder told a jury yesterday that he "snapped" and stabbed a man during "a screaming match" in the early hours of the morning.
Mr Seamus Tubbritt (39), formerly of Pearse Park, Waterford, was found stabbed to death in the early hours of December 9th, 1997, in a house at Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Waterford, in which Mr Francis Hogan was a lodger.
Mr Hogan (35), a single unemployed man, has pleaded not guilty to his murder. Mr Hogan admits the killing but denies intent.
Earlier yesterday a jury at the Central Criminal Court heard that Mr Hogan walked into Waterford Garda station and told Det Garda Paul O'Driscoll: "I want to talk to you about the murder of Seamus Tubbritt last night. I am guilty of killing him".
The prosecution has alleged that Mr Hogan "had it in for" Mr Tubbritt and stabbed him in the heart as he lay dozing on a sofa after a drinking session.
Mr Hogan, originally from Upper Johnstown, Waterford, told the court that due to family problems he was sent to a special school, St Joseph's, Fairyhouse, Clonmel, when he was eight years old. He alleged that while there he was physically and sexually abused by a Christian Brother.
Mr Hogan said he had been a heavy drinker since childhood and became an alcoholic in his teenage years. After years working and drinking in England, he got married at the age of 23, but the marriage broke down in 1990.
He said he had a number of nervous breakdowns and was sectioned a number of times when he became suicidal.
He returned to Waterford in 1996. When he moved in with Ms Bridget Walsh and her boyfriend in Ardmore Park, his drinking continued.
At the time of Mr Tubbritt's death, Mr Hogan was on five different types of medication, the jury heard.
On December 8th, 1997, he got up and took painkillers. In the course of the day he drank a flagon of cider, a few pints and several cans of beer.
When he returned home at around midnight, he continued drinking, he said. Ms Walsh and Mr Tubbritt were talking about an argument with her boyfriend, who had since left the house.
Mr Hogan said that when Ms Walsh went to bed, Mr Tubbritt was lying down on the couch but was still awake. He was talking about the way the boyfriend was carrying on.
Then Mr Tubbritt started to talk about him going to the school in Clonmel and "it was getting into a screaming match", the accused said. When the argument got into talk about the school, "I couldn't handle it", he said.
Mr Hogan said he stood up to turn off the television and saw a knife on a table. He said he picked up the knife without thinking and turned around. "I just snapped", he told his counsel. "To this day, I don't know why it happened".
The defence case continues today before a jury and Mr Justice Carney.