Accused broke brush handle on deceased's head, court told

A man accused of murdering his Navy comrade told gardaí he broke a brush handle on the deceased's head in a row on board the Navy flagship, the LE Eithne.

The Central Criminal Court heard today that the accused also told gardaí he took the deceased up on deck for air but he "slipped away" into the water and drowned.

Garda Andrew Morrison was giving evidence in the trial of apprentice ship mechanic Sean Lundon, aged 21, of James Connolly Park, Tipperary town.

Mr Lundon denies the murder of Able Seaman Brian Gorey, aged 21, of Devon Close, Castletroy View, Limerick, at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin on April 22 2001.

Garda Morrison told the court the accused made a statement two days after the drowning incident.

According to the accused, he had "a bit of a row" with Mr Gorey in the recreation room of the ship, some hours after they had separately returned to the LE Eithne from pubs in the city centre.

According to the accused's statement, Mr Gorey was asleep on a coach but woke up just as the accused was finishing a pint in "the rec" [recreation room].

In the statement, the accused admitted hitting Brian Gorey with a brush after he [Gorey] threw an ashtray at him: "Brian got up and came over and started having a go at me."

He told gardaí he picked up the brush and hit Mr Gorey with the handle "once or twice" on the side of the head" and he fell to the ground.

He then picked him up and took him up on deck for some air: "I was sitting him down on the ledge of the afterdeck ...just then he pushed me away. He slipped and was gone from me. He was gone into the water," the statement read.

He also told gardaí "I think I shouted for the QM" [quartermaster] but said he "panicked and ran inside".

The statement continued: "I'm sorry for what has happened to Brian", and for the deceased's family.

The court also heard that gardaí seized a pair of bloodstained cream trousers from the accused's locker on board ship.

When questioned initially the accused claimed he was wearing navy jeans on the night in question.

He later admitted to wearing cream trousers when gardai produced a photograph taken on Busker's nightclub that night which shows him wearing cream trousers.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, Garda Morrison said the accused appeared relieved to be telling gardaí what happened.

"The getting it off your chest kind of relief?" counsel asked.

"Yes My Lord" the witness replied.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Carney and a jury.