Prosecution says man was murdered by two men after row with girlfriend

A young plasterer was murdered by two men near his home in Cork shortly after a verbal row with his former girlfriend, the prosecution claimed at the outset of a trial today.

The case, which is expected to last two weeks, opened before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of 10 men and two women at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

John Brett, aged 25, of 26A Leitrim Street, Cork, and Jason Quinlan, aged 29, of 11 Loughmahon Drive, Mahon, Cork, both deny murdering Brian McKee, aged 24, at Ballinure Avenue, Mahon, Cork, on August 25, 2007.

Mary Ellen Ring, senior counsel for the prosecution, outlined the anticipated evidence in the case, stressing that her outline was not itself evidence.

“Jason Quinlan was seen carrying a knife and a broken bottle… Jason Quinlan and John Brett came through an alleyway, John Brett smashed a bottle. The two men were seen running at Brian McKee.

“The late Mr McKee ran away from them along Ballinure Road but fell to the ground on the path. Jason Quinlan was seen stabbing down on Brian McKee. Other witnesses will say they saw both Jason Quinlan and John Brett attacking him on the ground.

“He manages to break from free and run to a nearby shop and collapses on the ground. Garda Michael Kiely arrives on the scene at 4.45am. He finds Brian McKee on the ground in a pool of blood,” Ms Ring SC said in her opening of the murder trial.

Despite medical attention Brian McKee died several house later at Cork University Hospital. On examination the deceased was found to have 11 stab wounds, some of which were not very deep. One wound in particular caused internal injuries to the chest. This wound measured 13.5 centimetres (more than five inches).

In terms of background, Ms Ring said Mr McKee, a 24-year-old plasterer had ended a long-term relationship with Ciara Delaney six months earlier.

They had a daughter and, shortly after midnight on August 25 last year, he rang Ms Delaney and they had a row about the minding of their daughter. Ms Delaney and others were at a beach party in Myrtleville at the time of the call.

The late Mr McKee was in a friend’s house at St. Michael’s Lawn in Mahon when Ciara Delaney called after 4am. The row between them became so heated that Mr McKee’s friend told them to get out of the house. Their argument continued outside on to the green.

A number of others arrived, including the two accused and Ciara Delaney’s sister, Rebecca, who is Jason Quinlan’s girlfriend.

The trial continues tomorrow.