Kelly denies killing Ian McConnell in Ballymun

A Dublin man accused of murdering another man by shooting him at close range in the back of the head told gardai there was a “mad feud” going on in Ballymun but denied he had carried out the killing.

Detective Garda Shane McCartan gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court this morning that he had interviewed the accused Stephen Kelly after he was arrested on December 11 2005 on suspicion of the illegal possession of a firearm.

The 22-year-old from Balcurris Road in Ballymun has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ian McConnell who was gunned down outside the door of his first floor flat at Shangan Road in the early hours of that Sunday December 11.

The 28-year-old was shot in the back of the head at close range and died at the scene from his injuries.

In a cautioned interview that was read to the jury Det Gda McCartan agreed that Mr Kelly had told him that someone from the Shangan area had threatened him and an attempt had been made to shoot him.

Asked what this threat was about, Mr Kelly replied: “I don’t know. There’s a mad feud going on. They shot me.”

He said he had been shot two to three weeks before the interview in the Coultry area of Ballymun.

Asked if he had reported this to the gardai he said: “What are yous going to do? F**k all.”

Mr Kelly agreed that tit for tat incidents had been happening between Shangan and Coultry but said he did not know how to fire a gun and denied being in possession of a firearm on the Shangan Road.

He denied he had shot Ian McConnell and said: “I didn’t do anything. Do you think I would be here if I did that.” He added: “If I did kill the c**t I wouldn’t be sorry.”

He said he had gone to the Shangan area that night but was not wearing a watch.

Under cross examination from defence counsel Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC, Det Gda McCartan agreed Mr Kelly’s parents had been dead for some time and that he had arrived voluntarily at Santry garda station with his brother before his arrest.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins and the jury.