Lawyers for two brothers on trial for murdering a farmer, have told the jury that it is unreasonable that they should be asked by the prosecution to consider that a man “over a stray heifer turned into a killer or became involved in a plot to kill or cause serious harm”.

The second of two Co Laois brothers on trial for murder has told the jury in his case that he never struck the man they are accused of killing.

A Co Laois builder on trial along with his younger brother for murder, has denied under cross-examination that he fabricated his evidence that he was “purely defending” himself when he struck his neighbour.

The Assistant State Pathologist has today told the trial of two brothers accused of murdering a farmer, that the head injury he sustained during a dispute on their farmyard “substantially” contributed to his death.

A father of three who is on trial along with his brother for murder, told gardaí he was shocked when the man he is accused of killing made comments about his daughter who has Down's Syndrome in the months prior to the incident.

Two brothers on trial for murdering a neighbouring farmer after his heifer strayed on to their land, have been described as “madmen” by the main witness in the trial.

The jury has been discharged in the trial of two brothers accused of murdering Edward Dempsey (aged 49), a Co Offaly farmer, because of “insuperable” difficulties.

A Garda witness has told the jury in the murder trial of two brothers that one of the accused men told him the deceased had insulted his daughter, who has Down's Syndrome, prior to the alleged assault.

A Detective Garda has reiterated his evidence in the case of a two brothers accused of murdering a Co Offaly farmer, telling the Central Criminal Court he heard one of the accused say: "I hit him, you can arrest and charge me," when he arrived at the scene.

The main witness in the trial of two brothers accused of murdering a Co Offaly farmer has told the Central Criminal Court today that they “turned on” the deceased after they “invited” him onto their land to get his heifer.