Accused protested innocence to gardaí, court told

One of two men accused of murdering a 65-year-old grandmother told gardaí he “played no role in the death of that poor woman”, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Conor Grogan, aged 26, of Avonbeg Park, Tallaght, Dublin, and Timothy Rattigan, aged 26, of St Dominick’s Terrace, Tallaght, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mrs Joan Casey, aged 65, at Avonbeg Park on April 3, 2004.

The court heard that the two accused were arrested before 7am on April 19, 2004.

Prosecuting counsel Mr Padraig Dwyer BL read to the jury part of an interview conducted with the accused, Grogan, at Tallaght Garda Station.

Grogan had been with his co-accused, Rattigan, on the night drinking at a local pub, Ahern’s. They called on a friend and then went back to Grogan’s house where they downed half a bottle of vodka before going across the road to the flat of Rattigan’s sister, Tina.

Grogan was “slaughtered drunk” that night, he said.

Detective Garda John Stack asked the accused if he had any vengeance against the deceased, Mrs Casey.

“I have no vengeance against any of them (the Caseys),” Grogan replied. “I played no role in the death of that poor woman,” he added.

Det. Garda Stack pressed the accused further. “I put it to you that you broke the glass door, went upstairs and fired two shots through the bedroom door?”

“No, I did not,” Grogan said. “I’m not a killer, I’m far from a killer.”

The court heard that Grogan had gone home early on the morning of April 3, woke up at noon and continued vomiting throughout the day.

“Isn’t that why you were getting sick - because you heard the woman was dead?” Grogan was asked.

“No, it was because I was drinking,” he said.

The detective later asked Grogan if he had any remorse. “Any remorse for what, like? I didn’t do anything,” he replied.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of six men and six women.