Video evidence continues in baby murder trial

A former soldier told gardai he did not believe he could have killed the 18-month old infant he is alleged to have stabbed to death, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

The jury continued to view video recorded interviews of the accused in garda custody, the first time such evidence has been produced in an Irish court.

Gardai put it to the accused man, John Reilly, that he was in the house when the killing happened and was covered in the child's blood.

"Yes", he replied. Gardai then put it to him that his knife was on the floor of the sitting room where the infant was found dead. "Yes" the accused whispered.

"You woke up this morning with the child across your lap beside you," gardai suggested.

"I don't remember" he replied.

Asked how he could put himself "outside the possibility" of having committed the murder, the accused said: "I can't accept I'm capable of doing that."

When gardai asked if he accepted that human beings "can flip", he nodded in agreement.

Mr Reilly then added: "I do not accept I flipped."

In another portion of the interview the accused told gardai "I did not stab the child."

He was then asked was it possible he was so intoxicated that he imagined something happened, or he hallucinated.

Sitting with his head bowed, the accused replied quietly: "I don't think I did anything to Oisin."

Mr Reilly said he accepted that he moved during the night from the sitting room couch to the armchairs in which the baby had been sleeping on a makeshift bed.

When pressed on whether he was in a "conscious state" at the time he nodded slightly. But when asked if he remembered moving, he shook his head.

John Reilly (32) a former Irish Army Ranger and former UN sanctions inspector in Iraq is accused of murdering Oisin Reilly-Murphy of Ballinatoner, Manorkilbride, Co Wicklow on June 5 2000 at Kiltalown Road, Tallaght Co Dublin.

Mr Reilly, of Crooksling, Brittas Co Dublin denies the charge.

The accused's brother, Mr Myles James Reilly, gave evidence of having visited the accused in Tallaght Garda Station on the night of the killing and finding him in a "very emotional, sad state."

The witness told the jury that his brother "turned around and said 'but I killed Tommy's baby' in that manner. It seemed to me the way he said it, he seemed to be starting to wonder himself ... whether he did it or not."

Questioned by the prosecution, Mr Reilly said his brother's comments were "definitely not an admission of doing it."

He told the jury that a few moments later, the accused said "If I killed Tommy's baby tell Tommy to come and shoot me."

"Are you putting stress on 'if'?" enquired Mr Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting.

"Because that's what he said," the witness responded.

Mr Reilly recalled saying to his brother "if you did do it, it was your hand that did it, it could not have been you that did it."

The trial continues on Friday.