A witness in the trial of three young men accused of murdering a 19-year-old in south Dublin three years ago, says he was threatened by one of the accused after he was told the identity of the killers, a trial jury heard today.
Mr Damien Devine from Templeogue was giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the second day of the trial of three men accused of murdering Brian Mulvaney in March 2000.
Mr Devine said that after an ambulance had removed the fatally injured man, he walked down the road with Mr Brian Willoughby and one of his co-accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
"He [the third named accused] said 'we done that', like he was worried," Mr Devine said. "Brian Willoughby said if I said anything he'd kick my head in," he added.
Mr Brian Willoughby (24) Orwell Park, Templeogue, Mr Neal Barbour (20), Domville Road, Templeogue and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons deny the murder of Mr Brian Mulvaney of Firhouse, Dublin on March 11th, 2000 at Templeogue.
Under cross-examination by Mr Michael McMahon SC for Mr Willoughby, the witness said he didn't initially tell gardai what he'd heard because he was afraid of his client.
Mr Mulvaney died at Tallaght Hospital shortly after he was removed from the Watercourse, Orwell Park Drive, Templeogue having sustained severe head injuries in a beating when he left a house party with Mr Willoughby.
Mr Paul O'Connor gave evidence that at a party earlier in the evening Mr Willoughby called Mr Mulvaney "a faggot" and later said to him "I'm gonna get the faggot". He told Mr Tom O'Connell SC for the prosecution that he later saw Mr Willoughby walking with Mr Mulvaney.
The prosecution allege that shortly afterwards Mr Willoughby met the two co-accused and asked them to help him attack Mr Mulvaney because he was jealous that a girl he liked, Ms Suzanne McVey, had rejected him in favour of the deceased.
Ms McVey gave evidence that Mr Willoughby had asked her out on numerous occasions before the night in question and that he was aware she wasn't interested in him. "I didn't want him near me," trial judge Mr Justice Barry White heard.
She told Mr McMahon SC for Mr Willoughby that his client "knew before the party" that she didn't want to take things further with him, having kissed him at another party some time before.
A number of witnesses told the court that Mr Mulvaney was "in great form" at the party and was chatting and mixing well with the other partygoers. Ms Orla Carroll, who hosted the party said there was a "great atmosphere" in the house and many of the partygoers took either drink or drugs, or both.
Ms Suzanne Dillon said that at one stage she noticed Mr Willoughby standing at the bottom of the stairs "staring" at Mr Mulvaney.
A number of witnesses gave evidence of seeing the third named accused "covered in blood" in the early hours of the morning at the party. Both he and Mr Willoughby claimed there had been a fight with a local gang.
The trial continues tomorrow.