A sailor on the Irish Navy flagship, the L.E. Ethne was assaulted and dropped from the side of the ship into the River Liffey where he drowned, a murder trial jury heard today.
The ship's mechanic, Mr Sean Lundon (21) of James Connolly Park, Tipperary Town, pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow crewman, Mr Brian Gorey (21) of Devon Close, Castletroy View, Limerick, at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin on 22 April 2001.
On the opening day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Tom O'Connell SC prosecuting, told the jury it is the State's case that the accused man assaulted Able Seaman Brian Gorey in the ship's recreation room in the early hours of the morning.
He then took or carried him down a corridor to the ship's starboard side where he allegedly "precipitated him" over the side of the ship.
He told jurors they would heard witness evidence that the deceased man was alive when he was thrown overboard as he was seen struggling in the water.
The court heard that the L.E.Ethne was docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay from the Friday before the incident. The following night, April 21st, the accused and the deceased left the ship and went drinking. Mr Sean Lundon went to Busker's nightclub where he drank eight to 10 pints before returning to the ship around 3.30 a.m.
The court heard that Mr Brian Gorey went to a pub, returning to the L.E Ethne at around midnight. Mr O'Connell told the jury that several witnesses saw Mr Gorey asleep on a couch in the recreation room. There was "a bit of a party going on".
They would hear evidence from the last person to leave the room, at around 5 a.m., that the only two people left there were the accused man and Mr Brian Gorey, who was still lying on the couch.
Some 20 minutes later, another crewman heard a shout - "man overboard". He went to the side of the ship and saw Mr Gorey in the water about 20 feet off the side of the ship. The evidence would suggest that he was still alive as he was struggling, counsel said. The crewmen threw a buoy into the water but he was carried out to sea by the tide.
The jury would hear forensic evidence that the accused suffered injuries to his face, head and trunk. Mr O'Connell added that a broken ashtray and the broken shaft of a broom recovered from the ship were items "of some significance".
Gardaí also found a trail of bloodstains from the recreation room through the ship's corridor "leading to the side of the ship where one can infer Mr Gorey was caused to fall into the sea", counsel told the court.
The jury also heard that blood stains- later found to belong to the deceased- were discovered on items of clothing worn by the accused that night. The court heard the clothing, beige trousers and a navy jacket, were recovered from the accused's locker on board the L.E. Ethne.
The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney continues tomorrow.