Murder accused went on drinking after row, prosecution claims

A jury in the trial of a 20-year-old Dublin man accused of murder today heard that after the accussed allegedly stabbed his victim he ran from the scene and continued drinking.

A jury in the trial of a 20-year-old Dublin man accused of murder today heard that after the accused allegedly stabbed his victim he ran from the scene and continued drinking.

Jason Larkin of Ravensdale Road, East Wall, Dublin denies stabbing Patrick Costello, aged 31, also of East Wall, at 'The Plough' public house, Marlborough Street on July 4, 2002.

Addressing the jury of eight men and four women in the first day of the murder trial, Patrick

McCarthy, SC, for the prosecution said "Mr Larkin murdered Mr Costello at 11.45pm at the Plough bar on July 4, 2002 by lunging with a knife into the heart of Mr Costello."

Mr McCarthy, SC, prosecution counsel, said that Mr Larkin began drinking at 5pm or 6pm in the Plough bar after he finished work.

"He was carrying a bag with him, in that bag he had a knife," Mr McCarthy for the prosecution told the jury.

"At around 9.30pm, Mr Costello arrived in the Plough bar. They both appeared to know each other, both were from East Wall in Dublin but Mr Costello was 12 years older," Mr McCarthy said.

In the course of the evening it is claimed that the pair were involved in a slagging match or a row.

The jury were told that Mr Larkin was put outside the Plough bar. "Mr Larkin comes back inside the bar and throws a bottle at his head. They both ended up at the porch of the bar where Mr Larkin had a knife and he used that knife on Mr Costello", Mr McCarthy told the jury.

"Immediately afterwards someone shouted 'leg it' and Mr Larkin ran," Mr McCarthy said. "CCTV cameras show that Mr Larkin withdrew money and went to the Forum pub where he continued drinking. On his way home he passed the murder scene where gardaí had cordoned off the scene."

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White at the Central Criminal Court.