Gardaí never checked texts sent by murder accused, court hears

A jury has heard that text messages between an alleged murder victim and his former partner were not investigated by gardaí.

Detective Sergeant Barry O'Riordan agreed with Frank Quirke BL, defending, that Kieran Cambridge's phone indicated that he had sent a text message to his former partner expressing a desire to get back together.

Alex Freiberg (aged 30), of Bridgewater House, Clonmel, denies murdering 45 year-old Mr Cambridge at Carrigeen Close, Clonmel, Co Tipperary on August 16, 2007.

It is the prosecution's case that at the time of his death Mr Cambridge was in a relationship with Catherine Shanahan and that Mr Freiberg was Ms Shanhan's ex-boyfriend. The State say that the accused was unhappy about this relationship and sent a number of threatening text messages to Ms Shanahan. He then allegedly entered her house where he fatally stabbed Mr Cambridge who was in bed.

Mr Quirke read from a "device report" conducted on Mr Cambridge's phone which said that a text message was sent from his number to the number of his former partner with whom he had two chidren. The time and date of the text was unknown.

The message said, "all I ever wanted was to live with you and the kids" and, "I want my family back".

Det Sgt O'Riordan said he did not recall seeing the message during the investigation.

Mr Quirke said his client was accused of committing a "crime of passion" to which Det Sgt O'Riordan said "all I can say is that Catherine Shanahan is the ex girlfriend of Alex Freiberg".

Mr Quirke suggested that Mr Cambridge had sent a text to his former partner seeking to get back with her and that Ms Shanahan had had access to his mobile phone.

Mr Quirke also put it to Det Sgt O'Riordan that gardai say they removed light gray tracksuit bottoms from a washing machine in the hours following the incident.

Mr Quirke suggested that the State had implied that there had been an attempt to wash away evidence yet Ms Shanahan told gardai that the accused entered her house wearing navy track suit bottoms with a green design on the pocket.

The hearing will continues at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.