Accused pleads not guilty to ex-boxing champion's murder

A Dublin man pleaded not guilty today at the Central Criminal Court to murdering a former All-Ireland boxing champion two and a half years ago.

Thirty-four-year-old Anthony Burke of Clancarthy Road in Artane denied stabbing Joseph Sutcliffe (aged 32) at Fatima Mansions, Rialto in Dublin’s south inner city.

Mary Ellen Ring, SC, for the State told the jury of five men and seven women that the deceased had three children, one of whom had died, when he was stabbed to death on October 13, 2002.

Ms Ring said he was one of 11 children, originally from Drimnagh and at the age of 16 had drifted into the use of heroin and later cocaine, eventually becoming addicted. By October 2002, he had become involved in crime, and was staying with friends in the Fatima Mansions flat complex.

The court was told that on the Sunday morning on which Mr Sutcliffe sustained the single stab wound to his abdomen, the accused was in the council housing complex.

At 2.45am, the father of three was rushed to hospital, but died an hour later despite medical intervention.

The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney will resume on Thursday afternoon.