Man admits being at scene of murder

A man accused of murder has admitted being at the murder scene when a deaf young man was beaten to death but denied that he killed him.

William Roche was continuing his direct evidence in his trial for the murder of 21-year-old John Carroll in December 1998. The accused told the jury that after his arrest, he told gardai: "Yes, I was there, but I didn't do it."

The accused admitted kicking the deceased man twice but alleged that another man, not before the court, beat him with an iron ratchet that he had taken from the boot of his car. The accused told the jury he was sorry for "kicking someone like that." What happened on the night of the killing will stay with him for the rest of his life, he said.

William Roche, (aged 23), a native of Limerick with an address at Millstream, Killaloe, Co Clare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of John Carroll, Cappamore, Co Limerick on December 4,1998 at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co Tipperary. The court has heard that Mr Carroll's body was found in an isolated boreen. He died from multiple skull fractures.

When asked by defence counsel Michael Maloney BL if he felt frightened in Henry Street Garda Station, the accused replied that he was. He felt the gardai were pressurising him into making a statement. Mr Roche alleged that one garda had said "the poor bastard is dead" and they wanted to tell his family that they had got someone for it.

Asked if gardai had read over their interview notes to him, he replied: "There were no notes read over to me at any stage, at any interview".

The accused agreed that he had drawn a sketch of the ratchet used to kill Mr Carroll, and he signed it. "I did draw it. More to help the gardai and let them know what they were looking for," he told the jury.

The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.