Accused protected victim before fatal night, court told

A 19-year-old student on trial for conspiring to assault another teenager, who was found stabbed to death, had walked the boy home the previous night in order to protect him, the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee heard from a prosecution witness yesterday.

The witness also said Martin Ollo and Shane Regan both feared for their safety in the aftermath of the killing of Stephen Lyne on Ross Road, Killarney.

Mr Ollo has pleaded not guilty to two charges on consecutive dates — June 16/17, 2009 and June 17/18, 2009 — of conspiring with Regan to assault Mr Lyne, causing him harm.