A man accused of murdering a 26-year-old moneylender in Limerick last year told the Central Criminal Court yesterday he had no involvement in the attack. Mr Noel Kelly (19) has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr John Keane (26) at the house they shared in O'Malley Park estate, Southill, Limerick, on July 5th, 1996. He said he got on "fine" with Michael McMahon.
Mr Kelly told the court that he was brought up in O'Malley Park by his mother after his parents separated when he was three. He left school when he was about 12 or 13 and spent four years in England before returning to Limerick in December 1995.
He became a tenant in a bungalow in O'Malley Park in February 1996 and Mr Keane moved in a few days later, paying half the rent. Mr Kelly said he was 18 at the time of his arrest.
Earlier, Sinead Hickey (17) told the jury she had been going out with Mr Kelly at the time of his arrest. She described him as "very quiet".
On the night of July 4th last year, Mr Kelly had visited her at her sister's house and sat watching television with her after going to the chip shop for food. While he was at the chip shop, a friend of his had called and told her to tell him to come around later for drinks, Ms Hickey said. She could not remember the exact time he left the house.
Earlier Dr Darragh Little, a general practitioner, told Mr Patrick Gageby, prosecuting, that he was called to Roxboro Road Garda station on July 23rd last year to take a blood sample from the accused.
Dr Little said Mr Kelly told him he was suicidal and wanted to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. He said he had murdered a man and that his parents did not know about it yet. He also asked for drugs to calm him down.
Dr Louise McKenna of the Forensic Science Laboratory gave evidence that she had examined several samples in relation to the case. She agreed there was no forensic evidence to connect Mr Kelly with the crime.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Morris and a jury.