Accused ‘would be known to drink a lot’

The trial of man who admits killing a Polish man in Co Clare last year but denies murdering him has heard the accused "would be known to drink a lot".

Michael Maughan, aged 40, of Stone Court, Ennis, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Piotr Nowakowski, 31, at Sandfield Mews, Ennis, on July 23, 2013.

Last week, the Central Criminal Court was told the manslaughter plea was not acceptable to the prosecution and a jury was sworn in for the murder trial.

The accused has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Declan O’Dea at the same address on the same date.

Detective Garda Brendan Rouine agreed with Mark Nicholas BL, defending, that the carving knife belonged to the apartment.

Earlier yesterday, further memos of garda interviews with the accused during his detention at Ennis Garda station were read to the jury.

The trial is now in its fourth day and continues before a jury of seven men and five women with Mr Justice Paul Carney presiding.