A former garda responded to an emergency call about an assault on a man, but shortly after arriving at the hospital he was told the victim had died, a murder trial jury was told yesterday.
Former garda Mr Padraig Fallon was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of Mr Brian Willoughby (23), of Orwell Park, Templeogue, Dublin, and two minors who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The three deny the murder of Mr Brian Mulvaney (19), from Firhouse in Dublin, who died after sustaining a beating in the early hours of March 11th, 2000, at the Watercourse, Templeogue.
The Central Criminal Court has heard that both the deceased and Mr Willoughby attended a party in Orwell Park Estate on the night of the killing at which there was "an abundance of drink and drugs". The prosecution alleges all three defendants acted as "part of a joint enterprise" to kill Mr Mulvaney.
Mr Fallon said he was on duty in the patrol car at about 3 a.m. when the emergency call came through that a man had been taken to Tallaght Hospital after a suspected assault.
When he arrived at casualty he was shown the body of an unidentified man. The victim was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. The trial was adjourned until Monday to allow a forensic witness to attend.