Neighbours said they heard shout or scream

Two neighbours of a man who was beaten to death in an apartment last year told gardaí they heard a woman scream or shout on the night of the killing, a court has heard.

Gardaí in Waterford circulated questionnaires to locals in the aftermath of the death of Joe O’Brien, aged 60, who was killed on Apr 23 last year at Apartment 1, Scotch Marsh House, William St, Waterford.

Patrick Keating, aged 49, formerly of Moyne House, Grattan Square, Waterford, denies the murder.

The prosecution alleges he stamped on Mr O’Brien’s head and back, and hit him with a dumbbell after they were part of a group of people, including two women, drinking at the apartment.

Sgt Gavin Hegarty told the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Waterford, yesterday that 18 questionnaires were filled out by residents in the days after the death.

A man living in nearby Congreve House said he heard “a woman screaming, one scream” at 10pm or 10.30pm that night.

Another person who was in the same apartment said he “heard a woman shout” at 9.50pm.

The trial continues.