A Dublin man took "a full and active part" in the murder of a Belfast man associated with the INLA at an industrial estate in Dublin in 1999, a murder trial jury at the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Mr Daniel Finnegan (20), of Rutland Avenue, Crumlin, denies that on or about October 10th, 1999, in Dublin he murdered Mr Patrick Campbell (22), of Corduff Park, Blanchardstown. Mr Finnegan also pleads not guilty that on or about the same date he was engaged in a violent disorder.
In his opening address Mr George Birmingham SC said "bad blood or ill will" existed between two groups in Dublin culminating in the fracas which led to Mr Campbell's death.
Mr Campbell was a native of Belfast living for some time in Dublin and was "apparently associated with the INLA", the court was told.
"Although there were a number of people involved in the melee," it was the State's case that the accused took a "full and active part in the very serious assault, which led to the death of Mr Campbell", Mr Birmingham said.
He said the fracas arose out of a number of incidents that had occurred between two rival families, the O'Keeffes and the Creeds, and their associates. There had been "bad blood or ill will" between the two groups culminating in the burning of a van belonging to one of the O'Keeffe family. Mr Birmingham said members of the O'Keeffe family had then sought £600 compensation for the vehicle.
On October 6th, 1999, up to six people arrived at a unit in the Ballymount Industrial Estate in Dublin, seeking this compensation from members of the Creed family and associates, the prosecution alleged.
"Mr Creed anticipated something of this nature would happen and made contact with the INLA. As a result of this, six people associated with the INLA came to the Ballymount Windows [at the industrial estate] on October 6th and hid themselves in the premises," he said.
"I think the evidence will establish they were armed with firearms. Mr O'Keeffe's group arrived and when they did the men associated with the INLA came out of hiding. They beat them very severely, stripped them and left them naked," Mr Birmingham said.
"The group came prepared, as some had taken along knuckledusters, knives etc, but they were no match for the INLA and they succeeded in subduing them," the court was told.
"Mr O'Keeffe's people didn't return and he sent another group of associates to respond," Mr Birmingham said.
The prosecution alleged that the second group contained the accused, and when they arrived at the industrial estate "a serious melee between the INLA group and the second group" broke out. It was in the course of that, that Mr Patrick Campbell received very serious injuries, from which he died, the court was told.
Mr Birmingham said the court would later hear from the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, who carried out the post-mortem on Mr Campbell's body and concluded the deceased had died from multiple injuries arising from the beating. The injuries, including a swollen brain, liver failure, kidney failure and low blood pressure, culminated in the death of Mr Campbell.
Legal argument began yesterday afternoon, and the trial, before Mr Justice O'Donovan and a jury, is expected to continue today.