The mother of a teenager beaten to death has told a jury in the Central Criminal Court she became very concerned after her son went missing and she learned a body had been found in a nearby field.
Mr Michael O'Brien (27), single and unemployed, of Gallowsfield, Tralee, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Healy (16) of Shanakill, Tralee, at Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee, on or about February 22nd, 1997.
Mr O'Brien and the youth were allegedly associates who drank cider together occasionally in the town.
Having been missing for three days, Mr Healy's body was found on waste ground near a factory off the Monavalley Road.
State Pathologist Prof John Harbison told the court how 13 of Mr Healy's teeth had been knocked out, pieces of his jaw dislodged and he had suffered 20 head injuries.
Three and a half of Mr Healy's teeth were later found lodged in his windpipe and lungs.
Prof Harbison believed the teeth were inhaled, causing suffocation. Suffocation, head injuries and shock caused his death.
Mrs Kathleen Healy, of Ballyrickard Court, Tralee, told the court yesterday she was concerned when her son did not return home on the night he was last known to be alive.
She then became "very concerned" after hearing on a local news bulletin that a body had been found in the vicinity.
"I was very concerned because James hadn't been home. I just put on my coat and went down the road," she said.
Mrs Healy approached gardai near the scene where the body had been found.
"I explained about my son being missing and I was very concerned that there had been a body found."
Asked by Mr John Edwards, prosecuting, if gardai informed her of the identity of the deceased youth, she replied: "No, not at that point."
A friend of the youth, Mr Timothy Ward (18) of Rahoonane, Tralee, told the court that on the night of Friday, February 22nd, Mr Healy and friends were "effectively having a party".
Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, defending, asked if the group of friends bought alcohol most Fridays.
Mr Ward replied: "Yes."
He said the group would normally go to an area in Tralee called the "Dyke" or to the basketball court on a nearby estate on Fridays, where they would drink beer and cider. Mr Healy was there that Friday.
He said Mr Healy had arranged to attend a boxing tournament with him the following day, but he did not turn up.
He last saw him on the Friday night, wearing a black "puffy" jacket, blue jeans and Adidas runners.
Prof Harbison had earlier confirmed that the clothes found on the body on the following Tuesday morning included a black jacket with pockets, blue jeans and striped runners.
The trial, before Mr Justice Kinlen and a jury, continues today.