Three men accused of murdering a 19-year-old Dublin man in 2000 had agreed in advance to attack him, it was alleged before a murder trial jury yesterday.
At the Central Criminal Court, Det Sgt Joseph Molloy gave evidence that one of the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told gardaí that he also used a stick with which to beat Brian Mulvaney.
The teenager and two adults, Mr Brian Willoughby (24) Orwell Park, Templeogue, and Mr Neal Barbour (20), Domville Road, Templeogue, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Mulvaney, Firhouse, at Templeogue on March 11th, 2000.
Reading from a statement made by the unnamed accused at Terenure Garda station, Det Sgt Molloy told how this young man and Mr Barbour were approached by Mr Willoughby near the Orwell shopping centre early on March 11th. "Yer man [Mr Mulvaney] was just standing there and Willers [Brian Willoughby] said 'he's a queer from Knocklyon' and will we get him, we agreed to get him," the accused said in his statement.
Mr Mulvaney was unaware of this exchange and suggested that the group go somewhere to roll a joint of cannabis.
"Willers said 'yeah, follow me, follow me . . . halfway around the corner Willers gave him a box and he ran away," the statement continued. He said Mr Barbour grabbed Mr Mulvaney and tripped him. Although the accused first denied using a weapon, he later admitted he had.
"I started to hit him with the stick, I hit him around three times . . . I started boxing him on the ground and I kicked him." He told gardaí that Mr Willoughby "got carried away" and was shouting 'this is carnage, this is deadly, ha ha ha" as he jumped up and down on Mr Mulvaney's face.
The accused said he "froze" the next morning when he heard the young man had died.
The trial continues.