Clare man 'cried when he admitted killing', court told

A Clare man accused of murdering a hackney driver with a hatchet cried in a garda interview as he admitted the killing and said he’d never "even hurt an animal" in his life, a court has been told.

Det garda David McGee was showing video tapes of a garda interview of Anthony Kelly (aged 54) a native of Ruan, Co Clare with and address at Emlagh na Muck, Emlagh More, Waterville, Co Kerry who has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Liam Moloney (aged 56) in Ruane, Co Clare, on February 11, 2005.

The defence has admitted the killing but say the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time which diminished substantially his responsibility for his actions.

Mr Kelly has admitted to six other charges including robbing items belonging to the deceased, setting fire to his car and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Mr Kelly told gardaí he had thought of killing Mr Moloney on a number of occasions before the killing.

He said he was upset because his wife was Spanish and he claimed the deceased had been making racist remarks.

He said he felt like he was possessed and taken over by a "burning rage".

The case continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of five men and seven women.