Co-accused admitted beating man to death, court hears

A 21-year old man co-accused of beating a man, who later died, into a coma admitted to gardaí that himself and his friend "just beat him to death".

Mr Paul Sheehan, aged 21, The Glen, Cork and Mr Ross Stapleton, aged 21, also of The Glen have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Christian Scully, aged 28, Togher, Cork on October 17, 2002.

Mr Scully was on a life support machine after being set upon by youths at Sober Lane in the city centre in the early hours of January 28, before he suffered a cardiac arrest nine months later and died on October 17, 2002.

Today Detective Sgt John Quiltar told the jury in the fourth day of the murder trial that he arrested Mr Stapleton on January 30, 2002 in relation with the serious assault of Mr Scully.

Ms Mary Ellen Ring, prosecuting counsel read out the statement that Mr Stapleton gave in the presence of Sgt Quiltar and Detective Sgt Gerry Corbett.

Mr Stapleton told gardaí that himself and his friend had been drinking a cocktail of redbull, vodka, Heineken and Aftershock since 11am on Sunday, January 27 at the Abbey pub in Fermoy.

After midnight Mr Stapleton and his friend, he told gardaí, went into Cork City where Mr Stapleton was to meet his girlfriend, Ms Valerie Walsh in the Temple nightclub.

"She was talking to some bloke who had his hand leaning over her. I told her to f**k off. I was mad with her. I was freaked out because my old doll wouldn't come near me," Mr Stapleton told gardaí when questioned.

After a fight with the bouncers at the Temple nightclub, Mr Stapleton was ejected where his friend was waiting for him. His friend, Mr Stapleton told gardaí, was unable to get into the nightclub because he was wearing a tracksuit.

Once outside the nightclub sometime after 1.30am, Mr Stapleton told gardai that himself and his friend saw "a fella standing up a bit from the doorway".

"I remember an argument taking place but I'm not sure if I started the argument or my friend did. I didn't know him (Mr Scully), I never met him before," Mr Stapleton said.

The jury of nine women and three men heard that Mr Stapleton admitted to gardaí to the assault of Mr Scully when questioned. He said: "I feel good getting this off my chest, what's done is done, I can't do anything about it.

"We just beat him to death. We just kept beating him. We used our fists and legs. We just kept hitting him and beating him, hitting and beating him and standing on him.

"When we lifted him up his face was like a tap, there was blood everywhere," Mr Stapleton told gardaí.

The court heard that Mr Stapleton told gardaí that Mr Scully "put up resistance for ten minutes, he was a strong bloke".

When Detective Sgt Quiltar asked Mr Stapleton why he attacked Mr Scully, he said: "I don't know why, I just lost the head completely. Just tell him I'm sorry."

As Mr Scully lay on the ground, Mr Stapleton told gardaí that himself and his friend "legged it to John Grace's restaurant on Cook Street. As he ran, Mr Stapleton turned his blood soaked jacket inside out to conceal the blood, the court heard.

In a later interview with Mr Stapleton on the same day, January 30, 2002, Detective Gerry Corbett told the court that Mr Stapleton said he went to Mr Patrick Long's house in The Glen at 2.30am. He told gardaí that he "changed in the porch" because Mr Long "didn't want blood in the house".

Later on that day Mr Stapleton told gardaí that he spoke to his friend who said "if we got caught we will get big time in jail".

Five days later on February 4, 2002, Detective Sgt Corbett told the court that Mr Stapleton called to the Watercourse Rd Garda Station to inquire about Mr Scully's condition in hospital.

Detective Sgt Corbett requested Mr Stapleton to sign his statement. The court heard in his statement Mr Stapleton said: "I hope he is OK. It is on my conscience. All I want to say is I am sorry for what I did to him and I hope he is all right."

Today Dr Steven Doyle, forensic scientist attached to the forensic laboratory at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park told the jury that the blood found on the boots belonging to Mr Stapleton was "consistent with Christian Scully's blood".

The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler.