Accused felt "possessed" when he killed Clare taxi driver

A man accused of murdering a Clare taxi driver told gardaí he felt he was "possessed" when he killed him, a jury in the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Anthony Kelly (aged 54), of Emlagh na Muck, Emlagh More, Waterville, Co Kerry has pleaded not guilty to murdering hackney driver Liam Moloney (aged 56), on February 11, 2005.

In his opening for the prosecution Mr Tom O’Connell SC told the jury they would hear the accused man was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing.

He said Mr Kelly told the gardaí he had been getting increasingly depressed in the months leading up to the killing and was upset over remarks made by the deceased.

Mr Kelly claimed the deceased had been making racist remarks and that he was angry because his wife was from South America.

Mr O’Connell said witnesses would give evidence that the deceased never made racist remarks during his 30-year career in Shannon Airport.

“It was like I was possessed,” he told gardaí. “It was like fire coming out my head.”

However Mr Kelly has admitted to six other charges including robbing the deceased of car and house keys, a pocket knife, a wallet and €10 in cash. He also admitted taking a motor vehicle and damaging it by fire to it on the same date on February 11, 2005.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to going to Barrack Close, Barrack Street in Ennis, Co Clare with the intent to commit theft, and to the possession of a sharp object, namely a knife as well as an axe and a machete in a public place on the same date.

Finally Kelly also pleaded guilty to the possession of a sawn off shotgun in Co Kerry on the later date of February 24, 2005 giving rise to the inference that he did not have it in his possession for a lawful purpose.

Mr Moloney's body was discovered on farmland near the village of Ruan in Co Clare.

The case before Mr Justice Paul Carney is expected to last until next week.