Murder accused seen hitting victim on CCTV, court hears

A jury hearing the trial of a Dublin man charged with murder has watched CCTV footage of his red Honda Civic allegedly hitting the man he is charged with murdering.

Anthony O’Reilly (aged 22), with an address at Cleggan Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is charged with the murder of Daniel McDonald (aged 21), on Main Street, Arklow on February 2, 2007.

O’Reilly has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McDonald, dangerous driving causing the death of Mr McDonald and intentionally or recklessly grabbing the steering wheel of Jenny Tobin’s car causing it to swerve in the direction of Mr McDonald.

A jury of six men and six women this morning watched CCTV footage from Arklow’s main street taken on the night Mr McDonald was hit. It showed a person walking onto Main Street on the left hand side of the road and stopping near the centre line, with lights shining between the legs.

The car approaches on the left hand side of the road and video stills show the person being thrown in the air and the car heading towards the footpath.

The body is then seen lying on the left hand side of the road as people gather around it.

The trial continues.