One of three men accused of beating a drug addict, Mr Josie Dwyer, to death has claimed a drug dealer threatened to burn down his flat unless he confessed to murder. Mr Mark Cooke also claimed that all gardai were corrupt and that he was forced into signing a confession.
In a heated exchange with Mr George Birmingham SC, defence counsel, Mr Cooke i, and said his head was also being "wrecked" by counsel.
Mr Hugh Byrne (33), of Dolphin House, Mr Mark Cooke (25), of Dolphin House and Mr John Fitzpatrick (35), of Fatima Mansions, all Rialto, deny the manslaughter of Josie Dwyer at Basin Lane, Dublin on May 14th, 1996. They also deny assaulting Mr Alan Byrne, and violent disorder on the same date.
It was the 19th day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. It is alleged that Mr Dwyer was beaten to death after an anti-drugs meeting at Dolphin's Barn, Dublin.
Mr Cooke denied in direct evidence that he told gardai a vigilante named Bill had threatened to burn down his "gaff" if he gave evidence.
He told his counsel, Mr Anthony Sammon SC, that it was a drug dealer who made the threat, and who said it would be enforced unless he confessed to murdering Mr Dwyer. Cross-examined by Mr Birmingham, he said he was threatened by a garda he believed to be Sgt Ashley O'Sullivan when he went to the toilets in Kilmainham Garda station.
Mr Cooke denied telling gardai he had kicked Mr Dwyer, and said Det Garda Con Cronin had also threatened him. When Mr Birmingham suggested that this was incorrect, Mr Cooke said Det Garda Cronin had said: "You kicked Josie Dwyer". When Mr Cooke shouted the phrase over 25 times, getting louder and louder, Mr Salmon suggested he be allowed to take a break.
Judge Dominic Lynch said Mr Cooke was already being permitted a great deal of indulgence.
Asked about the evidence of Ms Karen Kennedy and Ms Fiona O'Brien, who had both identified Mr Cooke as being in Basin Lane when Josie Dwyer was attacked, he said both witnesses had been lying.
He said he was standing at the top of Basin Lane with Karen Kennedy and a caretaker from the Dolphin's Barn community centre when the attack took place.
The trial continues.