A Limerick man begging for his life shortly before he was beaten to death was told by a murder accused "there is nothing I can do", a Central Criminal Court jury has been told.
The court was told Mr John Carroll (21), of Mullally Grove, Cappamore, Limerick, who suffered a fractured skull, multiple injuries and inhalation of blood, was being driven to his death in a car at Ballinahinch, Co Tipperary, when he begged one of the occupants of the car, the accused, for help.
Ms Deirdre Rose (20), of Killaloe, Co Clare, pleaded not guilty to the charge that on December 4th, 1998, at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co Tipperary, she murdered Mr John Carroll.
Ms Rose also pleaded not guilty that on December 4th, 1998, at a place unknown within the State, she assaulted Mr Carroll with intent to rob.
Mr Eamon Leahy SC, prosecuting, said Mr Carroll was deaf and had a speech impediment. His body was found in Ballinahinch on December 4th, 1998, at 7.15 a.m.
Mr Leahy said Mr Carroll had sustained severe blunt-force trauma to the head, coupled with several fractures and lacerations which had caused injuries to his brain.
Ms Rose had been babysitting on the night of the attack against Mr Carroll. Her shift had ended when a number of people came back to the house where she was working, accompanied by Mr Carroll, the court was told.
A row developed between Mr Carroll and other people, some of whom had attempted to invite Mr Carroll to remain at the house that night for £30. When Mr Carroll refused, he was followed outside by a number of people, where he was assaulted, the court was told.
Reading from three statements made by Ms Rose to gardai later on the day of the discovery of Mr Carroll's body, Mr Leahy said Ms Rose admitted attending part of an assault on the deceased by two other named men.
One of the named men was "still trying to get the £30. I knew was serious and could get violent and I didn't want that to happen. kicked John Carroll in the stomach, then in the face. John fell to the ground." Mr Carroll was then taken back inside the house and it was apparent he had lost consciousness.
One woman inside the house was concerned and requested that an ambulance be called and one of the men said he would drive him to the hospital, the statement said.
In her statement, Ms Rose said that on the night of Mr Carroll's death she had been in a car in which he and two other men were travelling. "[Another named man] put him in the back seat of the car and he wasn't able to talk. I sat into the front seat of the car. [Another man] beat the shit out of him with his fists. I didn't look back because I was scared of the violence on John."
After driving further towards Garraun, the statement read, one of the men "kept asking for a bank card and PIN number. I knew we were not going to the hospital. I knew he was going to be robbed . . . [One man] stopped the car. John said to me `Help me. Help me. Tell them to leave me alone.' I said `There is nothing I can do' and I looked away from him."
According to the statement, Mr Carroll was taken out of the car and beaten with an iron bar and left at the roadside.
Mr Leahy said those engaged in a joint enterprise were responsible for the acts of each other, and as such Ms Rose was charged with murder and assault with intent to rob.
The case resumes today.