Murder trial nears conclusion

The jury hearing the trial of a young Dublin man accused of murder is expected to retire tomorrow to consider their verdict.

Mark Green (aged 20), Tritonville Rd, Sandymount, Dublin 4, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Alan Young (aged 19), George Reynolds House, Ringsend, at or near Bremen Rd, Irishtown, Dublin on March 11th last year.

Mr Young was found near Irishtown sports stadium with a stab wound in his chest.

Mr Justice Paul Carney is expected to finish his charge to the jury tomorrow morning before the seven women and five men retire to consider their verdict.

During the trial, the jury heard that Mr Green and Mr Young were friends for most of their lives but that “tensions” developed between them on the weekend of the alleged murder.

The court heard that Mr Green was “slapped in the face” by Mr Young in the Irishtown House pub on the Saturday night and that, later on, he was “punched and kicked” by Mr Young.

Mr Green then went to friend David McKeever’s house. The court heard that he took a knife from the kitchen and returned outside, where he told Mr McKeever and ex-girlfriend Erika Nangle that Mr Young’s life would “not be worth living”.

The court was told that Ms Nangle then called Mr Young and told him that Mr Green was looking for a fight and that Mr Green said that he “never said such a thing”.

Mr Young arrived and there was another altercation between him and Mr Green.

A number of witnesses told the court they saw Mr Young turn around and say: “He’s after stabbing me”.

A number of gardaí told the court that Mr Green approached them after the alleged murder and said he was “responsible” for a stabbing.