Accused 'lost total self control' after argument

A man accused of murdering his neighbour has admitted stabbing him but claimed he lost "total self control" following an argument with the deceased, Noel McCarthy, on the night of the killing.

When he took the stand in the Central Criminal Court yesterday today the accused, Mr Keith O’Donovan, said he pushed in the deceased man’s door and stabbed him.

He told the court that Noel McCarthy had been at the O’Donovan house twice that night threatening to cut his throat and that of a co-accused, Mr James Hourigan.

Mr O’Donovan said an argument arose earlier that night when he and James Hourigan were refused entry into the deceased’s house after they returned from the pub at closing time.

There was a scuffle outside Mr McCarthy’s house.

"It turned into a stupid argument that I’ll always regret," he told the jury. "My life is a disaster since. I wish I could swap places [with Noel McCarthy]".

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

The accused told the court that he and James Hourigan had been drinking in Cork city on the day of the killing and had arranged to bring a few drinks back to the McCarthy house. When they arrived, Noel McCarthy refused to let them in because there were too many others in the house.

In evidence, the accused agreed he was annoyed as he had bought drink for Noel McCarthy throughout the previous weekend.

The court heard that after the initial scuffle, Noel McCarthy went up to the O’Donovan house and began shouting. The second accused, James Hourigan admitted hitting him over the head with a bottle.

Keith O’Donovan told the court that when Mr McCarthy returned a second time, his young son was terrified and wet himself with fear. "I just lost control of myself. I grabbed the knife and I ran down and I blew in the door and I stabbed him," he said.

"I just lost total control of what I was doing. I never felt like that in my life."

Under cross-examination, the accused denied that he went after Noel McCarthy "to sort him out" because he was resentful over not being let in. Mr John Edwards SC prosecuting, put it to the accused that when he went after the deceased he "intended to cause serious harm and possibly kill Mr McCarthy".

"No way, no way, no way," the accused replied.