A man on trial for the manslaughter of three elderly sisters who burned to death in a house fire on Inishbofin two years ago thought people on the island were going to kill him, Galway Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday. The man may have been under the influence of a substance apart from alcohol, it was claimed.
Mr Alan Murphy, originally from Belfast but with an address at Spelga Avenue, Newcastle, Co Down, is pleading not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mrs Eileen Coyne (81), at Middle quarter, Inishbofin, on July 6th, 1999.
He also denies the unlawful killing of her two sisters, Mrs Bridget McFadden (80) and Ms Margaret Concannon (72), and to setting fire to Mrs Coyne's house on the same date, endangering the lives of the three sisters.
Mr Padraig O hUiginn SC, prosecuting, said the State's evidence would be that Mr Murphy entered Mrs Coyne's house early on July 6th, 1999, through an unlocked front door, and set fire to some papers, which resulted in the deaths of the three women.
Mr O hUiginn said the evidence would be that Mr Murphy was seen walking up towards Mrs Coyne's house at around 1.25 a.m. At 1.50 a.m. he was seen coming down the road from the direction of Mrs Coyne's house.
Mr O hUiginn said Mr Murphy had been carrying a black and white baseball cap which had been taken from the house.
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues today.