THE JURY in the Shane Geoghegan murder trial has seen a video of the accused man admitting Mr Geoghegan’s shooting.
Det Garda Mark Philips testified that after the interview was over and the tapes were turned off, Barry Doyle took a set of white plastic rosary beads from around his neck and left them on the table.
He said his exact words were: “Will you give them to Shane Geoghegan’s Ma?”
Det Garda Philips held up the beads for the jury to see.
Barry Doyle (26), Portland Row, Dublin, is on trial charged with murdering Mr Geoghegan (28) on November 9th, 2008.
Mr Doyle has pleaded not guilty to murdering him at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick. The Garryowen rugby player was shot near his home in a case of mistaken identity.
The jury yesterday watched a Garda interview with Mr Doyle in February 2009, two days after his arrest.
The Central Criminal Court has already heard that he had denied any involvement in the crime in his first 14 interviews, after which he had a lengthy consultation with his solicitor.
Det Garda Philips and Det Garda Brian Hanley of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation then began interview 15.
He was asked to tell the truth.
“Yeah, I shot him,” he said. “I saw someone walking across the estate. I got out of the car. I shot at him. He ran. I chased him around the back of the houses. I shot him again.” He was asked whether Mr Geoghegan had said anything to him. “Please stop,” he replied.
He said Mr Geoghegan turned and ran. “I just left off a few and went after him again,” he said. “I was looking around the cars. I heard heavy breathing.” He found Mr Geoghegan in a back garden.
“I shot him,” he said, saying that the victim had pleaded with him to stop before he shot him twice in the head. He said Mr Geoghegan was on the ground, against the wall of the house.