A man accused of the murder of a baby during an arson attack in Darndale, Dublin, last year told garda∅ he thought that there were adults in the house, a court heard yesterday.
The accused, Mr Gerard Redmond, admitted to garda∅ that he threw a petrol bomb into the kitchen of a house in Buttercup Park, Darndale, on July 23rd, 2000 to "get back" at a member of the family living there, Mr Steffanio Lieghio, who had earlier attacked him. He said he "didn't care whether" Mr Lieghio was there or not.
Mr Redmond (36), a father of six, of Ferrycarrig Park, Fairfield, Coolock, has denied the murder of Adam Lieghio, who was just a month short of his second birthday when he died in the fire. He also pleaded not guilty to two associated arson charges.
The court has heard that in statements to garda∅ that are not contested by the defence, he admitted assembling and throwing the petrol bomb. He said that in the hours beforehand, he drank several pints of lager, two vodkas, smoked a joint of hash and took "a few lines of cocaine".
Det Garda Anthony Ryan agreed with defence counsel Mr Hugh Hartnett SC that in his first week in prison, when he was charged with murder, Mr Redmond had to be kept in a padded cell, such was his distress.
The prosecution case closed yesterday in the trial before a jury and Mr Justice O'Sullivan.
