A Galway man accused of murdering his uncle told gardai he could not remember whether he had killed him, a Central Criminal Court jury heard yesterday.
Mr Patrick Joseph McGreene (29), with addresses at Corrib Park and St Mary's Road, Galway, has denied murdering his uncle, Mr Tom Clisham (53) between November 24th and December 4th, 1997, at Inverin, Co Galway.
In evidence, Det Sgt Sean O'Grady said the defendant had said he was "not a murderer" but could not remember breaking a whiskey bottle and putting it to the deceased man's throat. "No, I can't remember, but if you say I done it, I done it," witness said the accused told gardai.
Det Sgt O'Grady, of the Crime Investigation Unit in Salthill Garda station, questioned the defendant about his uncle's death shortly after the body was found.
Mr McGreene allegedly described himself to gardai as "a totally different person" who became violent when he drinks whiskey. Asked if he suffered memory-loss after drinking, Mr McGreene allegedly said: "I never remember what I do after taking whiskey."
Referring to comments allegedly made by the defendant during interviewing, Mr John Rogers SC, prosecuting, put it to Det Sgt O'Grady that the defendant had been co-operative with gardai.
When asked if anything else took place in the deceased man's house, Mr McGreene allegedly told gardai: "No, nothing like that. I was abused by priests years ago." A garda then reportedly said: "I'm putting it to you that maybe it did happen and you can't remember." Mr McGreene allegedly said: "If you say it happened, it happened, but I can't remember it."
Mr Rogers put it to Det Sgt O'Grady that sexual advances had been made upon Mr McGreene which "surprised" him and sparked the row.
The court previously heard that the deceased was found dead in his home wearing only socks, with his hands bound. Domestic pets or rodents had eaten away the flesh. There was evidence of bleeding into the mastoid and a vertical airpipe fracture.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Kelly and a jury.