A FATHER of three who is on trial along with his brother for murder, told gardaí he was shocked when the man he is accused of killing made comments about his daughter who has Down syndrome in the months prior to the incident.
During interviews with gardaí, Daniel-Joseph Byrne said a neighbouring farmer, Edward Dempsey, made a comment about “bad breeding” in his house, while they were engaged in farm work.
Mr Byrne (39) told detectives he didn’t react on that occasion.
He also told gardaí that Mr Dempsey made comments again about his daughter, before he hit him over the head with the handle of a shovel in December 2006.
The prosecution is arguing that Mr Dempsey died 10 months later as a result of the head injury he sustained. Lawyers also say “DJ” Byrne, and his brother Jason, engaged in a joint enterprise with the intention of causing serious injury to Mr Dempsey on the day.
The Byrnes, both of Hammer Lane, Borness, Mountmellick, Co Laois, deny the murder.
The case resumes today.