Attack accused ‘wanted to make little of victim’

A LITHUANIAN man told gardaí he shoved an iron bar up another man’s rectum and then urinated on him to make little of him — as is, he said, the tradition in his country — because he owed him money for drugs, a trial in Galway heard yesterday.

Gintautas Bagdonas, aged 32, formerly of Clan House, Dominick Street, Galway, and co-accused Aurelijus Zrielskis, aged 36, formerly of 26 Cois Chlair, Claregalway, both deny the false imprisonment of Jaan Eemon, aged 33, at Francis Cottage, Menlo, Galway, on May 25, 2010.

Both men also deny intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Eemon in a shed.

The men’s trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court this week heard that, during interviews with gardaí following his arrest, Bagdonas said Zrielskis was not involved.

He said he had carried out the assault on his own because Mr Eemon owed him almost €3,000 for heroin and was avoiding him.

Bagdonas denied he was shielding Zrielskis because he was afraid of him.

“He was not there. He (Eemon) took the beating. I made a mistake, I will do the time,” he said.

Dr Edward Connolly, forensic science laboratory, said he matched Eemon’s DNA to blood samples taken from the shed and from the tools used in the assault. He found no DNA evidence linking either accused to the scene.

The trial continues today.