A Co Sligo man accused of the murder of community activist Mr Terry Madden told the Special Criminal Court yesterday he was "completely devastated" when he heard news about the killing.
Mr Patrick McGrath said he never had a grudge or falling out with Mr Madden and denied he was part of a plan to cause serious harm to him. He was giving defence evidence after the prosecution case against three men accused of Mr Madden's murder closed.
It was the thirteenth day of the trial of three men who deny the murder of Mr Madden, a 52-year-old father of three at his home at Monasteraden, Co Sligo, on January 28th last year.
Mr McGrath told his counsel, Mr John Edwards SC, he had known Mr Madden through a local boxing club where he (McGrath) was a trainer. He said he had not seen him for a couple of years and added: "There was never a falling out between Mr Madden and me." He admitted he had asked Mr Herron to "give a good hiding" to a man who he (McGrath) blamed for assaulting his daughter and said he agreed to pay Mr Herron for it.
He also said he got a shotgun because he wanted to frighten the same man because the man was frightening his son and his son's child. Mr McGrath also said Mr Doohan told him he was having difficulties with Mr Madden and Mr McGrath asked could it not be sorted out between themselves.
"He (Doohan) said Mr Madden was the cause of his father's death and he seemed very upset by it," he said. He told his counsel that he was not part of nay plan to have Mr Madden beaten up.
He said Mr Herron knew he had a shotgun and where the gun was hidden. He said he was no aware that Mr Madden was going to be shot and added: "I knew that they were going to try and give Terry Madden a hiding."
Mr McGrath said there was never any mention of kneecapping Mr Madden or leaving him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He said on the morning Mr Madden was shot he saw Mr Herron drive up to his (McGrath's) house and put a black sack in a gap in a field next to the house. Mr McGrath admitted he moved the shotgun later that day to a location which he later pointed out to the gardai.
The trial continues next Tuesday.