A Dublin man charged with the murder of a 72-year-old woman at her home yesterday told the Central Criminal Court that another man killed her.
Mr Richard Kearney (20), of Finglas Place, Finglas, denies that between November 23rd and 25th, 1998, he murdered Ms Mary Dillon, of Beneavin Road, Finglas.
Mr Kearney also denies two charges of trespass and attempted theft. He denied that he trespassed at Ms Dillon's home on the previous March 17th while attempting to steal her car. He also denied trespassing on to Ms Dillon's premises on November 23rd, 1998, intending to steal a radio from her car.
Mr Kearney yesterday said another named man, whom he knew, stopped him in the street and asked him for a light. The other man was a heroin addict. "He asked me to keep watch while he broke into the house."
After the man broke into the garage through a window at the back, a woman appeared on the scene. The man threw her "down by the side of the car and the wall", said Mr Kearney.
"He pushed her real hard and she fell on the ground. He started hitting her and kicking her. I just stood there looking at him. I didn't say anything, just went into shock."
He said parts of his signed Garda statements and memos were not composed by him but suggested by gardai and repeated until he agreed with them.
The trial continues.