A MAN accused of murder told gardaí that they had “the wrong person” and he “did nothing wrong”, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (20), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on August 25th, 2001.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that had pulled up outside the Abrakebabra fast-food outlet at Crumlin Shopping Centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.
Det Sgt Joe O’Hara told Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, that he had arrested Mr Rattigan on September 4th, 2001, in Ryan’s pub on James’s Street, Dublin 8, on suspicion of the murder of Mr Gavin.
He said he interviewed Mr Rattigan at Sundrive Road Garda station that afternoon and again that night.
Det Sgt O’Hara said that Mr Rattigan had told him that he did “nothing wrong”. Mr Rattigan told him: “I did nothing wrong. I’m a nobody.”
When asked where he was on the night of the alleged murder, Mr Rattigan replied: “I can’t remember. When I do, I’ll tell you. I’m a very forgetful person.”
Sgt O’Hara told Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that Mr Rattigan was examined by a doctor during his detention, who found “no physical injury of note”.
The trial continues.