Murder accused admits hitting victim with bottle, court hears

A murder accused has admitted hitting the deceased over the head with a bottle and pushing him, but he denied involvement in a joint enterprise to murder him.

The accused, James Hourigan, denied prosecution claims he was telling 'a tissue of lies told in a self serving way' to escape a murder charge.

James Hourigan (aged 32) of Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork and Keith O’Donovan (aged 29) of Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Noel McCarthy (aged 28) on May 4, 2000, at his home at Spriggs Road, Cork.

When he took the stand today, Mr Hourigan said he went drinking with Keith O’Donovan around 11am on May 3. He had about six or seven pints of lager before going home at 3pm.

He told the court that at around 9pm, he spoke to Mr McCarthy on Spriggs Road while waiting for Keith O’Donovan to get ready to go to the pub again.

He said he remained in the pub with Mr O’Donovan until closing time. They got a 'carry-out' of beer and went to the McCarthy house expecting to be allowed in but Noel McCarthy refused.

"We could not see why we should not be left in," James Hourigan told the Central Criminal Court.

He said he and his co-accused were annoyed at this because they had been drinking with and 'carrying' Noel McCarthy for the previous two days.

There was a 'bit of a scuffle' between Noel McCarthy and Keith O’Donovan, the accused said.

The two accused then went up to the O’Donovan house five doors away. Mr Hourigan said there was a loud bang on the door and Noel McCarthy was on the doorstep screaming and roaring.

The accused said when Mr McCarthy refused to go home he 'pushed him down the steps'.

Mr Hourigan claimed that Mr Carthy then pulled an object out of his coat and that he [the accused] had a bottle of beer in his hand: "I hit him with the bottle in the head," he told the jury.

About an hour later, McCarthy returned with a bandage on his head and began kicking down the door and 'threatening to cut me and Keith’s throat'.

He said Keith O’Donovan ran out after Mr McCarthy and he 'seemed very angry at Noel'.

The accused told the court he ran after Mr O’Donovan towards the McCarthy house. "The next thing I know is Keith and Noel in the hall. I thought Noel was after getting a punch," he said.

Under cross-examination, the accused denied suggestions by Mr John Edwards SC that he knew the victim had been stabbed. 'I did not see Keith O’Donovan stab Noel McCarthy'.

Counsel put it to Mr Hourigan that the place was splattered with blood as Mr McCarthy had sustained a severed artery, which caused blood to spurt everywhere.

"Are you asking the jury to believe you saw no blood?" counsel asked.

"I did not see any blood. I was only in the hallway and out the door," the accused replied.

The trial continues on Monday.