I found tenant lying on the floor with his throat cut, says landlord

A Limerick landlord became emotional as he described finding one of his with his throat cut.

He was giving evidence in the trial of a 33-year-old Limerick man charged with murdering a 54-year-old man found with 41 wounds to his body.

Gerard Manning, of Upper Gerald Griffin St, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Martin Purcell at his apartment on Wickham St, Limerick, between Sept 28 and 30, 2011.

Clive Kenneally told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Purcell was one of his tenants, and said he was meticulous and paid his rent in the shop every Thursday morning.

However, he said Mr Purcell had not done so on Thursday, Sept 29, though he did not pay much attention to it.

He said another tenant, Michael Hederman, called to the shop the next day. He had a letter addressed to Mr Purcell and said it had been there since the day before.

Mr Kenneally said he decided to go to Mr Purcell’s flat with an employee, Pat O’Dwyer, to check on him. He said he knocked on his door and called his name, but got no response.

“I hit the door harder and the door moved slightly. Pat pushed the door open and I saw Martin on the ground.”

He became emotional as he recalled seeing Mr Purcell lying on the floor.

“I saw a line across his neck. It looked like blood.”

Mr O’Dwyer, a watchmaker in the jeweller’s shop, said Mr Purcell’s trousers were down around his knees when he saw him. He said he saw blood on his throat.

In her opening speech, Úna Ni Raifeartaigh SC, prosecuting, said a pathologist would testify that Mr Purcell sustained 41 wounds.

She said the accused was contacted by gardaí a few days after Mr Purcell was found, but denied ever having known him or being in his apartment.

The trial will continue on Monday.