Friend spoke to hit-and-run accused on phone, court told

A friend of a man charged in connection with a fatal hit and run told a court yesterday he had phoned the accused and spoken to him on the morning of the crash.

Stephen Murphy, from Kanturk, Co Cork, said the accused, Shane Fitzgerald, told him, at around 4.30am on July 1, 2012, he was “stranded” at a house party in Ballydesmond.

Mr Fitzgerald, aged 22, of Upper Knockeen, Knockduff, Meelin, Newmarket, Co Cork, denies dangerous driving causing the death of Paud O’Leary, a father of four, at Scrahanfadda, Gneeveguilla, Co Kerry, on July 1, 2012.