A man accused of murder told gardai he beat his alleged victim with a bar after being startled in a laneway, a jury in the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Garda Michael Hennebry of Clonmel gardai drugs unit told the court that during interviews, the accused man, Mr Paul Fitzgerald, had said he "got a fright" when he was disturbed and struck the man.
Mr Fitzgerald (29), of Garrymore, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, denies murdering Mr Francis Daniels (41), of Oliver Plunkett Terrace, Clonmel, on October 26th, 1997. Reading from notes that he said had been taken during interrogation, Garda Hennebry told the court that Mr Fitzgerald had said he was disturbed while attending to a drugs stash in a laneway.
"Some fella moved near me and I got a fright," the notes read. "I got a fright and gave him a few belts [with a bar]. I got a fright and I lashed out.
"I got a fright lads, and that was it. I didn't know it was Frankie, though. I found out after, all right."
Asked to make a statement about the matter, Mr Fitzgerald is alleged to have said: "No way. I'm making no statement and that's it."
He allegedly told gardai he could not make a statement about killing Mr Daniels while dealing in drugs because he did not deal in drugs. "I have nothing to do with hash," the accused allegedly told gardai.
The trial continues today before a jury of eight men and four women.