A 19-YEAR-OLD Co Kilkenny woman charged with the murder of her elder brother at a house party said, “I can’t believe I stabbed my brother”, shortly after he collapsed and died, the Central Criminal Court heard.
Michael Brennan (22) collapsed and died after he received a single stab wound to his heart during a party in his uncle’s house at 35 Barrack Street, in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny at about 3.30am on December 30th, 2008.
When arraigned and informed of the charges, at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Waterford yesterday, Caroline Brennan, of Love Lane in Castlecomer, replied “not guilty” to a charge of murdering her brother.
In his opening address, John O’Kelly SC, prosecuting, told the jury that the case revolved around the allegation that Ms Brennan brought a knife with her to her uncle Ollie Nolan’s house in Barrack St, on December 30th.
The jury would hear evidence that “she stabbed him through the heart and that Michael Brennan fell to the ground” and that efforts to save him failed. “The deceased had one single wound through the heart,” Mr O’Kelly told the court.
Ms Brennan looked solemn and upset throughout day one of the trial. She was accompanied in court by her parents Bill and Eileen and her brother William.
The court would hear that the accused “brought the knife to the party with her” and that there had been bad feeling between Ms Brennan and her brother.
Next door neighbour Eddie Lawlor and partner Sarah Byrne said they heard Caroline Brennan admit to stabbing her brother following an altercation at the house.
Ms Byrne in evidence last night said: “She was just saying, ‘Oh My God! I can’t believe I just stabbed my brother . . . is he okay?’ She was hysterical, upset.”
The couple had been entertaining Ms Byrne’s brother, Ciarán Byrne, and his girlfriend Orla Twomey at Barrack St on the night in question.
Mr Lawlor told Mr O’Kelly he had known Mr Nolan, now deceased, from “going in and out” of the house and that there had been “a bit of commotion” and noise including banging coming from next door on December 30th. “There would have been a few parties . . . with people going in and out,” Mr Lawlor said.
Mr Lawlor got up out of bed at 3am and said he heard two girls but could not see them while there was “crying” and they seemed “a bit afraid”. He went back upstairs to tend to his four-year-old daughter, who was “unsettled”. When Mr Lawlor peered out through another window he saw Caroline Brennan and Michael Byrne’s girlfriend, Lisa Peagram.
Mr Lawlor told Mr O’Kelly he “heard Caroline Brennan say, ‘I can’t believe that I stabbed him’ ”.
Questioned by Paddy McCarthy SC, defending, Mr Lawlor said he heard Ms Peagram tell Ms Brennan that “he’s going to kill me”. However, Ms Brennan told her: “I swear on Gerry’s grave he won’t get you . . . Willie won’t let him get you.” Then, Ms Brennan went in to get Ms Peagram’s coat and her phone for her, the court heard. Under questioning from Mr McCarthy, Det Ian Redmond, a photographer with the Garda Technical Bureau, said he did not know if a substance found at the house was “hash”.
Det Redmond had “no idea” that heroin, cannabis, cocaine and morphine were found in the deceased’s toxicology.
The trial continues.