Murder trial told of request for solicitor

A man accused of murder complained to gardai that he had requested a solicitor before interrogation by detectives, a jury in …

A man accused of murder complained to gardai that he had requested a solicitor before interrogation by detectives, a jury in the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.

The court has heard that John Paul Hayes (22), of Belcamp Green, Coolock, told gardai during questioning that he had killed his friend in a knife attack. Mr Peter Finlay SC, counsel for Mr Hayes, has challenged the alleged admission.

Mr Hayes has denied murdering Mr Francis Moore (33) at Coultry Road, Ballymun, on June 13th, 1999.

Mr Paul McDermott SC, prosecuting, asked Det Sgt Matthew Murphy if the accused man had made any complaints while in custody. Sgt Murphy said that while he was being visited by his mother in the Garda station on June 14th she had asked him why another named man had answered his telephone the previous day. The accused man then shouted: "Get me my f...ing solicitor now."

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A short time later the accused man contacted a solicitor from the firm of his choice. He subsequently submitted a statement, addressed to the member-in-charge of Ballymun Garda station, saying: "I, John Hayes, wish it to be noted and appendaged to my statement that I requested a solicitor before I was interviewed."

Sgt Murphy said that at no time prior to the occasion noted and acted upon had the accused man requested a solicitor.

The court heard earlier that the accused man had been staying at the flat where his sister and her boyfriend, Mr Moore, were living. The accused man's sister had moved out after a row and Mr Moore was found stabbed to death on the balcony of the flat a week later.

Mr McDermott said it was the State's case that the accused man had stabbed Mr Moore repeatedly, inflicting 39 stab wounds, seven puncture wounds and a number of incise wounds, resulting in his death.

The case continues today.