A man accused of murder told a jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday he believed gardai were "stitching me up".
Mr William Campion (31) told the court that during questioning while in custody he had been asked about his whereabouts on the date of the assault. He had said he was with his wife. The gardai didn't believe the alibi and "went red in the face," he said.
Mr Campion (31) of no fixed abode but formerly of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, denies the murder of Mr Patrick "Paud" Skehan (68), a bachelor farmer of Ardataggle, Bridgetown, Co Clare. Mr Skehan was attacked during a robbery at his home between April 9th and 10th, 1998. He died from his injuries on June 3rd that year.
Mr Campion also denies burglary contrary to the Larceny Act and that between April 9th and 10th that year he trespassed into the home of Mr Skehan with intent to steal.
Mr Skehan was found unconscious and hanging upside down at his home. He has been beaten and bound with cable wire.
Shoeprints in blood found at the scene allegedly matching prints from running shoes taken from the accused have been put forward as the main evidence against him.
Mr Campion said comments had been put to him during questioning by gardai about the bloody shoe-print and the runners taken from him, but said he denied suggestions connecting him with the scene. "No way did he believe me, he didn't want to believe me. I knew they were stitching me up, putting me somewhere I wasn't," he said. The gardai were "trying to discredit me in whatever way".
The court also heard Deputy State Pathologist Marie Cassidy give the cause of death as bronchial pneumonia and blunt force trauma to the head.
The trial, before Mr Justice Aindreas O Caoimh and a jury of seven women and five men, continues today.