A Dublin man accused of murder told gardai that they “have the wrong person” and that he “did nothing wrong”, the Central Criminal Court heard today.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (20), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin on August 25th 2001.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that had pulled up outside the Abrakebabra fast-food outlet at Crumlin shopping centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.
Det Sgt Joe O’Hara told Mr Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, that he arrested Mr Rattigan on September 4th 2001 in Ryan’s pub on James’s Street, Dublin 8, on suspicion of the murder of Mr Gavin.
He said that he interviewed Mr Rattigan at Sundrive Road Garda station that afternoon and again that night.
Det Sgt O’Hara said that Mr Rattigan told him he did “nothing wrong”.
Mr Rattigan told him: “I did nothing wrong, I’m a nobody.”
When asked where he was on the night of the alleged murder, Mr Rattigan replied: “I can’t remember. When I do, I’ll tell you. I’m a very forgetful person.”
“I did nothing wrong. If I did I’d come in here and tell you all about it, definitely. I don’t know where you are getting your information from. It must be from the rats,” Mr Rattigan said.
Det Sgt O’Hara told Mr Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that Mr Rattigan was examined by a doctor during his detention and the doctor found “no physical injury of note”.
Earlier, Joyce Conlon told prosecuting counsel she was at Abrakebabra on the night of the alleged murder.
“Do you remember something violent happening?” Mr Comyn asked.
“No, not really. I just seen roaring and shouting,” Ms Conlon replied.
“Do you remember rendering any assistance to a person that night?”
“Yeah, we were all thrown into a kitchen. I just blanked out then. I can’t remember anything after that then,” she said.
The trial continues.
