Mountjoy murder trial enters final stages

Closing speeches have been heard in the trial of a Mountjoy Prisoner accused of murdering another inmate.

Defence counsel, Paul McDermott SC, told the jury that Declan O’Reilly had acted in self defence when he fatally stabbed Derek Glennon in June 2007.

Mr O’Reilly (aged 28), of Parnell Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 has pleaded not guilty at The Central Criminal Court to murdering Mr Glennon on D wing of the prison on June 25, 2007.

Mr McDermott said there was “an enormous gap” in the prosecution’s case in that no explanation or motive had been provided as to why Mr O’Reilly stabbed Mr Glennon.

Mr McDermott asked the jury to consider what life was like in Mountjoy Prison and the circumstances under which Mr O’Reilly lived. It was the defence case that the accused was bullied and intimidated by Mr Glennon over a period of months.

“What is going on is quiet appalling”, Mr McDermott said. He told the jury it had had an unique insight into the atmosphere of violence and intimidation in the prison.

On the day of the death the accused was attempting to return a knife to Mr Glennon that he had been holding for him. Mr O’Reilly said that Mr Glennon threatened to cut his throat.

Mr McDermott told the jury that Mr O’Reilly panicked. The stabbing was captured on CCTV footage and Mr McDermott told the jury that it did not make sense that Mr O’Reilly would plan to kill under the deceased under the noses of prison officers and four cameras.

“I suggest none of this was premeditated”, he said. Mr O’Reilly was terrified and honestly believed that he would be attacked with a knife in the prison yard.

Mr McDermott said Mr Glennon had a “fearsome reputation” and had committed 14 assaults while in jail.

The jury had heard that Mr Glennon was the main suspect in the 2005 shooting an The Fassaugh House pub in Cabra.

“That was what he was capable of”, said Mr McDermott.

He told the jury that if was satisfied that the prosecution had not disproved that Mr O’Reilly had used reasonable force in circumstances where he believed an attack on him was imminent, it should acquit.

If the jury believe more force than was reasonable was used, but Mr O’Reilly honestly believed that the force used was necessary then it should acquit him of murder and convict him of manslaughter.

Patrick McGrath BL, prosecuting, told the jury that there was no dispute that Mr O’Reilly had inflicted the fatal wounds. He said CCTV provided compelling evidence that Mr O’Reilly stabbed Mr Glennon “out of the blue”.

Mr McGrath said the necessary intention to kill or cause serious harm was present in the case.

Mr McGrath said Mr Glennon was an “utterly despicable man” but his right to life was equal to anyone else’s”.

He said Mr O’Reilly had taken the law into his own hands and decided to get rid of a person by putting a knife through his chest.

Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins is charging the jury of six men and six women this afternoon and it is expected to begin its deliberations at the close of that charge.