Teen accused of murdering father

A 19-year-old man accused of murdering his father has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Thomas Cunningham Junior, of Santa Maria Commons, Ballinlough, Roscommon, denies murdering Thomas Brendan Cunningham (aged 46) at that address on August 23, 2007.

The jury heard that the deceased was found in the front garden with a duvet covering him and a pillow under his head. He had suffered head and neck injuries and paramedics at the scene were told he had fallen over drunk the night before and could not be moved.

In opening the case for the prosecution, Patrick Gageby SC told the jury that the accused lived with his father and grandparents in a small cottage. The accused was brought up in London but moved in with his grandparents in 2005. A year later the deceased also moved in.

Mr Gageby said the deceased drank alcohol "extensively" and there was tension between him and the accused. The grandparents were becoming increasingly dependent and the deceased was receiving a carer's allowance.

The jury will hear evidence that an emergency call was made after 8am on August 23, 2007 and paramedics found the deceased lying on his back on a gravel driveway with a duvet over him and a pillow underneath his head.

Mr Gageby said the deceased had gone drinking the day before and returned around midnight having drunk quite a lot. The prosecution will say the accused assaulted his father who died as a result, although not immediately. Mr Gageby said post mortem evidence will reveal serious head, neck and chest injuries.

Paramedic Dermot Sutton told the court that he arrived at the house after 8am where he was met by a man in his teens and an older man. He saw a man lying on the ground who exhibited no signs of life and had dried blood and vomit on his face.

Mr Sutton said he was told at the scene that the deceased had fallen during the night and that he could not be moved so had been covered with a duvet. Mr Sutton said he was told that this was not the first time the deceased had fallen in this manner.

Doctor Gregory Kelly said he was called to the scene of a "sudden death" and he pronounced Mr Cunningham dead at 11.10am.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of eight men and four women.