A Dublin man who befriended a heroin addict stabbed him after they had a row in the accused's house, a murder trial jury was told yesterday. Mr Dermot Byrne (54), Bath Street, Irishtown, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Mr Bernard Smyth (50), of St Patrick's Villas, Ringsend, Irishtown, Dublin, on October 29th, 1998.
Mr Erwan Mil Arden SC, for the prosecution, said on October 27th, 1998, Mr Smyth and another man who has since died, Mr Thomas Behan, bought heroin and went to the accused man's house where Mr Behan helped Mr Smyth inject it. Mr Smyth passed out from the drugs and Mr Behan helped bring him round several times and the accused man Mr Byrne thanked him for saving his life. Mr Behan left the house and later there was a dispute and the accused stabbed Mr Smyth.
Despite hospital treatment Mr Smyth was pronounced dead at 7 a.m. on October 29th, counsel added. Mr Jarlath O'Brien said he called to Mr Byrne's house and found Mr Smyth and Mr Byrne lying on the ground. Mr Smyth was breathing heavily and was unconscious and Mr Byrne was "very drunk", he added. He called his uncle Mr Derek Murphy.
Mr O'Brien said he called an ambulance. His uncle told the ambulance people Mr Smyth took heroin and was HIV positive. He said he and his uncle met Mr Byrne the following Saturday and he told them he had been trying to waken Mr Smyth up "by sticking things in him."
Cross examined by Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC for the defence, Mr O'Brien said Mr Byrne had taken Mr Smyth, who was living rough, off the streets. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney continues today.