A man accused of murder apologised in the Central Criminal Court yesterday for kicking the victim. Mr Stephen Doyle (24), of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, Dublin, told the court: "I know we took part in injuring a man . . . I accept responsibility for what I have done, but I didn't murder anyone."
Mr Doyle and Mr William Broderick (22), of Cathedral View Walk, deny the murder of Mr John Murray at a house in Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin, on January 15th, 1998. They also deny committing a violent disorder on the same date.
In cross-examination by Mr Shane Murphy, prosecuting, Mr Doyle said he felt guilty that someone lost his life on the night that he and several men entered the house where his ex-girlfriend lived.
"Someone died as a result of the assault on him, and I do want to pay the price for what I have done," he said, adding that he had no intention that anyone would die. "I have to live with this for the rest of my life."
In his closing speech for Mr Doyle, Mr Martin Giblin SC told the jury members his actions "caused or contributed to the death of Mr Murray, no doubt about that". He asked them to consider the pressures Mr Doyle was under at the time.
He "didn't have the specific intent to kill Mr Murray," Mr Giblin said. It would be "no disrespect to Mr Murray's memory if you find Mr Doyle guilty of manslaughter," he added. "My submission to you is that on the evidence you have heard Mr Stephen Doyle is not guilty of murder, and I would ask you to bring in a verdict consistent with this evidence."
The court heard previously that Mr Doyle entered his ex-girlfriend's house in the early hours of the morning to discover details of an alleged assault on his daughter about which he was obsessed. Mr Broderick and two other men entered the house with Mr Doyle when the assault on Mr Murray occurred.
Mr Broderick's defence counsel, Mr Anthony Sammon SC, will give his closing speech today before the trial judge, Mr Justice McCracken, sends away the jury to consider its verdict.