Youth told gardai teenager hit head on ground, court told

A Co Limerick youth told gardai that a tragic teenager stumbled and hit his head on the ground after he struck him on the side of the head, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Detective Sergeant George McGeary read out a statement made to him by Fergal Cagney, an accused in a manslaughter trial, on September 5, 2000.

Mr Cagney admitted to hitting the deceased, Mr David Langan in the early hours of August 25, 2000. Mr Langan cracked his skull on the ground after being hit and died in Beaumont Hospital on August 30.

The incident happened on Portobello bridge after Mr Cagney's cousin, Mr Ronan McGrath, a friend of Mr Langan, had an altercation with the dead man.

The three men and a number of their friends at been out socialising in the Palace disco on Camden Street.

Cagney (aged 20), from Greenacres, Kilteely, Co Limerick, and McGrath (aged 19), from Deerpark Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, have denied unlawfully killing 19-year-old David Langan at Grove Road in Dublin on August 30, 2000.

Both also pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct causing harm to Mr Langan on August 25, 2000.

McGrath has denied a third count of threatening to kill Mr Langan on the same date.

In his statement, Mr Cagney said he only hit Mr Langan once after the deceased came at him with his hands raised. The evidence was that Mr Langan had a lot to drink and got into a scuffle with Mr McGrath outside the disco.

The altercation continued up to Portobello bridge and three friends tried to restrain both men. A witness earlier said Mr McGrath told his cousin to "hit him, hit him. F**king hit him" after threatening to kill Mr Langan.

Det Gda Thomas Stack read out a statement made by McGrath in which he described how Mr Cagney struck Mr Langan.

Mr McGrath said he was angry after Mr Langan pushed him up against the shutters of the Palace following a brief exchange of words after the people emptied on to the streets.

He pursued Mr Langan up to Portobello bridge because he wanted to do the same to him and find out why he had done it to Mr McGrath.

Dr Paula Phelan earlier told Mr Michael Durack, prosecuting, that when Mr Langan arrived at St James' Hospital he had a serious head injury. There was a wound to the right side of the back of the head and a CC scan revealed bruising to the front and back of the brain.

He was transferred to Beaumont Hospital the following day because of the seriousness of his condition. He never regained consciousness and died on August 30.

His body was exhumed on December 18 and a further post mortem was performed by the State Pathologist Dr John Harbison.

The trial continues before Judge Dominic Lynch and a jury of eight men and four women.