A Kilkenny man allegedly tried to kill one of best friends because the friend told him he had HIV and wanted to be taken out of his misery, it has been claimed in the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Joe O'Grady yesterday said his nephew, Thomas, confessed to him the night after the victim, Mr Paul Barry, was set alight in a field in Kilkenny city.
Mr Barry had to have his legs amputated and lost a finger as a result of the attack.
Mr O'Grady told the court that Thomas called to his flat in Thurles on October 10th, 1999, and confessed that a friend had told him he was HIV positive and wanted to be killed.
Thomas said he beat the man with stones and later lit a fire around him.
He said he had previously been at a drinking party in the field with the man and about six other people.
Mr O'Grady was giving evidence on the sixth day of the trial of Mr Thomas O'Grady, (20), of Fatima Place, Kilkenny, who has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Paul Barry (29) on two separate occasions on October 10th, 1999, on Hebron Road in Kilkenny city.
Mr O'Grady has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing serious harm to Mr Barry by injuring his head and by burning his lower limbs. Prosecutors allege that he twice attacked Mr Barry after a late-night drinking session with local youths.
Cross-examined by Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, Mr Joe O'Grady denied he shared any bad feelings with Thomas's father, Michael.
He agreed he told gardai in a written statement that Thomas confessed to him on the morning of Monday, October 11th, 1999.
He told Mr Sammon he had made a mistake in his written statement and he later explained this to a detective dealing with the case. The trial continues before Mr Justice O Caoimh and a jury.