A Dublin man stabbed a man who wanted heroin substitutes because he threatened the accused's wife, a murder trial has heard. William Duffy (35) later confessed to gardai.
Duffy has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murdering Mr Paul Rooney (22) in Tallaght on September 9th, 1998. Mr Sean Ryan, prosecuting, told the jury Duffy and his wife Sandra were recovering drug addicts. On the evening of the killing Mr Rooney called to Duffy's house and asked for a heroin substitute but was told they didn't have any to spare. Mr Rooney watched a video with them.
In a statement read in court, Duffy said he heard Mr Rooney shouting at Sandra. He grabbed a knife and when he saw Mr Rooney pushing Sandra he stabbed him repeatedly.