House-party guests 'cheered death fight'

A Waterford man who attended a house party at which a teenager was fatally stabbed in a brawl recalled at the Central Criminal Court today people present watching and cheering the fight.

Eoin Barrett was giving evidence in the trial of Justin Longman (aged 19), of Larchville, Waterford, who denies murdering Brian O’Neill (aged 18), of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Waterford, at Woodlawn Grove in the city on February 13, 2005.

"Everyone was watching, like. Everyone was going to watch a fight. Everyone was just shouting," he said.

During questioning by senior prosecuting counsel, Connor Devally SC, Mr Barrett told the court that he and the accused had planned to go out together, but he had changed his mind.

Later in the evening, the witness heard of the house party at Woodlawn Grove, and invited the accused and a number of friends along.

"I was ringing people and they were ringing me. Just inviting people down," he said.

Mr Barrett admitted he recognised almost everyone at the gathering, except the man who lived there.

He said he did not know why Mr Longman and Mr O’Neill began fighting, but they had been "eyeing each other up".

"One of them hit the other. The two of them were just standing beside each other and started fighting.

"I don’t know who started it."

Previously, the court heard from Mr Brian Schweppe, who had planned the party in his home because he was new to Waterford and wanted to make some acquaintances.

Mr Schweppe told how several groups of uninvited guests arrived, and the party’s atmosphere began to change.

Human faeces were found in the microwave, and the deceased had urinated inside the house.

Mr Schweppe recalled seeing the accused and Mr O’Neill in a scuffle, and Mr O’Neill being stabbed a number of times.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan and the jury of nine men and three women.