Murder victim and co-accused had 'got on like house on fire'

A murder trial jury at the Central Criminal Court today heard that one of the three co-accused was "getting on like a house on fire" with the 19 year-old victim at a friend’s party in the hours before the killing.

Mr Mark Pierce, of Cypress Drive, Templeogue was giving evidence at the seventh day of the trial of Mr Brian Willoughby and two other teenagers who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The three deny the murder of Mr Brian Mulvaney, a 19 year-old man from Firhouse in Dublin.

Mr Mulvaney was badly beaten and was found naked from the waist up lying on the roadside at the Watercourse, Templeogue on March 11, 2000. He died shortly afterwards at Tallaght Hospital.

Mr Pierce told prosecuting counsel, Mr John Edwards that Mr Mulvaney and Mr Willoughby were talking for a long time at the party and getting along very well. "They were sharing drinks and both smoking hash," he said.

He said that although he didn’t see anyone taking ecstasy, there was ecstasy "to be got", and he said he believed Mr Mulvaney had taken ecstasy. Under cross-examination by Gerry Charleton BL for Mr Willoughby, Mr Pierce said that he hadn’t heard of "liquid e" or if it was available at the party.

When asked if Mr Mulvaney was stoned, he replied, "you wouldn’t have to put a joint to your mouth to get stoned with the smoke, everyone was stoned". He said that while he did not see Mr Mulvaney take ecstasy, he knew "by the way he was acting" that he had.

The trial has been adjourned until next Thursday while the prosecution await the result of toxicology tests.