A PUBLICAN accused of the murder of his wife and a child in a house fire told a jovial story to a garda a few days afterwards about holding a barbecue, a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
Mr Francis McCann also spoke of trying to have his wife, Esther, insured, according to Garda James Murphy, who was stationed in Rathfarnham at the time.
He was giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the 12th day of the trial of Mr McCann, a publican.
Mr McCann (36) has denied the murders of his wife, Esther (36), and an 18 month old baby, Jessica, in the family home at Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin, on September 4th, 1992.
The jury heard Jessica was a blood relative of the accused man but not a child of his marriage to Esther. The prosecution claimed Mr McCann arranged the fire because he did not want to tell his wife why the Adoption Board had refused the couple's application to adopt Jessica.
The jury also heard that Mr McCann, who owned The Cooperage Pub in Blessington, Co Wicklow, complained to gardai that he received threatening telephone calls to his home and pub.
Garda Murphy said he was preserving the scene on September 10th when he had a conversation with Mr McCann, who was refused access to the premises.
Asked by the accused man if the scene was "under wraps" Garda Murphy said it was and when Mr McCann said it was his home, the garda offered his condolences.
Mr McCann spoke of how much Garda time was wasted in courts. He also talked of the need for people to have tact regarding the sensitive situation of his family and related a story of how he had met friends during the week and informed them of his barbecue.
Those present started laughing at the comment. He had spoken without realising what he was, saying. Garda Murphy said Mr McCann told him this story in a jovial way.
The accused man went on to praise his pub staff, saying that after being interviewed they had assured him of their support although he had noticed that one barman seemed somewhat embarrassed and on edge after the interview.
He asked him about it and was assured that he had stood by him in the interview.
The witness said Mr McCann had told him he was insured for £250,000 and that he had tried to insure his wife for £50,000 two weeks previously. The insurance companies had kept sending him forms to fill in as his wife had a thyroid problem and had to take medication.
At the fire scene, Mr McCann had said it did not matter as the forms had been burned. He had talked of insurance and had said he was advising a neighbour on a smoke damages claim. Nodding to what was left of his home, he had wondered what it was worth.
Mr McCann also said it was a good job he had not taken out insurance on his wife or he would have the cops following around on his heels."
Cross examined by Mr Barry White SC, Garda Murphy denied he had prompted Mr McCann during the "casual conversation".
Earlier the trial was taken up with evidence by a fire expert. Legal argument in the absence of the jury took up much of the afternoon.
The trial continues.