Three men accused of the murder of a 19-year-old Dublin man in 2000 agreed in advance to attack him, a murder trial jury heard today.
At the Central Criminal Court, Det Sgt Joseph Molloy gave evidence that one of the teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told gardai that he also used a stick to beat Brian Mulvaney with.
The accused and two others, Mr Brian Willoughby, (24) Orwell Park, Templeogue and Mr Neal Barbour (20), Domville Road, Templeogue have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Brian Mulvaney at Templeogue on March 11th, 2000.
Mr Mulvaney, who was from Firhouse died in Tallaght Hospital when attempts to revive him failed.
Reading from a statement made by the third named accused at Terenure Garda Station, the witness told how this young man and Mr Barbour were approached by Brian Willoughby near the Orwell Shopping Centre in the early hours of the morning of March 11.
"Yer man [the deceased] was just standing there and Willers [Brian Willoughby] said 'he's a queer from Knocklyon' and will we get him, we agreed to get him," the accused said in his statement.
Mr Mulvaney was unaware of this exchange and suggested that the group go somewhere to roll a joint of cannabis.
"Willers said 'yeah, follow me, follow me ... halfway around the corner Willers gave him a box and he ran away," the statement continued.
He said Mr Barbour grabbed the deceased and tripped him down to the ground. Although the accused first denied using a weapon on Mr Mulvaney, he later admitted he had.
"I started to hit him with the stick, I hit him around three times ... I started boxing him on the ground and I kicked him," he continued.
The accused told gardai that Mr Willoughby "got carried away" and was shouting 'this is carnage, this is deadly, ha ha ha' as he jumped up and down on Mr Mulvaney's face.
The accused said he "froze" the next morning when he heard the young man had died and went home and tried to wash blood from his jacket and shoes.
He told gardai he was sorry and "felt like shit". "I can't put it into words, I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry," he said.
The trial continues before Mr Justice White and a jury tomorrow.