The trial of three men accused of beating a drug addict, Mr Josie Dwyer, to death has reached its concluding stages and is expected to end later this week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The jury is being addressed by counsel for the prosecution and defence and will then be charged by Judge Dominic Lynch before beginning its deliberations.
The trial has lasted 21 days so far. Mr Hugh Byrne (33), Dolphin House; Mr Mark Cooke (25), Dolphin House; and Mr John Fitzpatrick (35), Fatima Mansions, all deny the manslaughter of Mr Dwyer in Basin Lane on May 14th, 1996. Mr Dwyer was allegedly beaten to death after an anti-drugs meeting in the Dolphin's Barn area.