A YOUNG woman told a murder trial yesterday she saw a man kick another man "full force blows" as he lay on the ground.
Ms Andrea Murray was giving evidence on the second day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court of Mr Patrick Carry (18) of Headfort Grove, Kells, Co Meath, who has denied the murder of Mr Tony Kenny (17), of Tromra Road, Granard, Co Longford, on March 6th, 1994. He has admitted manslaughter but his plea was not accepted by the State.
Yesterday, Ms Murray told Mr Dennis Vaughan Buckley SC prosecuting, she saw Mr Kenny stepping on to a bus outside the Carrig Springs disco in Co Cavan early on March 6th 1994. She saw another man behind Mr Kenny who appeared to be taunting him. She said Mr Kenny hit his head off the bus and fell with his head and part of his body going under the bus.
Ms Murray said the man who had hit Mr Kenny then put his hand against the back of the bus and kicked Mr Kenny full force blows six or seven times.
Cross examined by Mr John Rogers SC, defending, the witness said she had a vivid memory of Mr Kenny being kicked but not of the clothes people were wearing.
Counsel said other witnesses had testified Mr Kenny's body was not under the bus and they had not said anything about his making to get on a bus. He put it to her she was wrong. Ms Murray said she stood by what she said.
Mr Larry Corcoran, a bus driver, said he saw Mr Kenny put his fists up in defence and another person swinging punches. Later he heard a loud bang at the back of his bus and he saw Mr Kenny lying between the bus and the kerb. He was in a bad state and people came around him.
Mr Corcoran said bouncers came out of the hotel and apprehended two youths. One of these seemed to be frantic and was out of his mind and shouting.
Mr Charlie Rogers, also a bus driver, said he knew the defendant and had never had trouble with him. He said another named man, with whom he had had trouble, had later come to the door of the bus in a "wild" state and called to the boys on the bus to get off.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Budd.