Accused told gardaí he shot Geoghegan

The jury in the Shane Geoghegan murder trial has seen a video of the accused man admitting to Mr Geoghegan’s shooting.

Barry Doyle, aged 26, of Portland Row, Dublin is on trial charged with murdering the 28-year-old rugby player on Nov 9, 2008.

The father of three has pleaded not guilty to murdering him at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle in Limerick. The Garryowen player was shot near his home in a case of mistaken identity.

The jury yesterday watched a Garda interview conducted with Mr Doyle in Feb 2009, two days after his arrest.

The Central Criminal Court already heard that he had denied any involvement in the crime in his first 14 interviews, after which he had a lengthy consultation with his solicitor.

Detective Garda Mark Philips and Detective Garda Brian Hanley then began interview 15. He was asked to tell the truth.

“Barry, were you involved in the murder of Shane Geoghegan?” he was asked.

“Yeah, I shot him,” he responded. “I saw someone walking across the estate. I got out of the car. I shot at him. He ran. I chased him around the back of the houses. I shot him again.”

He was asked if Mr Geoghegan had said anything to him.

“Please stop,” he replied.

He was asked how many shots he had fired.

“We have to know you’re telling the truth,” the detectives explained.

“I’m not going to admit to a murder I didn’t do,” he replied.

He then said he had fired seven or eight shots.

He was asked if he felt any better after telling the truth.

“It doesn’t take back what I did,” he replied.

Mr Doyle also drew a map of the crime scene, pointing out where Mr Geoghegan was when he saw him.

“I got out of the car and I shot at him,” he said, pointing to the map. “I took aim and I shot… one handed, right hand.”

He said the rugby player was halfway across the road at that stage. He said Mr Geoghegan turned and ran.

“I just left off a few and went after him again.

“I was looking around the cars,” he explained. “I heard heavy breathing.”

He found Mr Geoghegan in a back garden.

“What happened then?” he was asked.

“I shot him,” he replied, explaining that the victim had pleaded with him to stop before he shot him twice in the head.

Asked if he was sorry that he had shot Mr Geoghegan, he said he was.

Det Gda Philips testified that after the interview was over, Mr Doyle took a set of white, plastic rosary beads from around his neck and left them on the table. He said his exact words were: “Will you give them to Shane Geoghegan’s ma.”

The garda held up the beads for the jury to see.

The trial continues.