Pensioner had exchanged cash on day of killing

A pensioner who was found dead in his home in Co Westmeath last year exchanged €400 worth of coins for notes in a pub on the day he was allegedly robbed and murdered, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Noel Cawley (aged 47), of no fixed abode, but with a previous address in Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Christy Hanley (aged 83), at his home on Bridge St, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, on May 21st last year.

He has also pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Hanley of an unknown sum of money at the same address on the same date.

It is the prosecution's case that Mr Cawley tied Mr Hanley up, robbed him and beat him to death.

Joseph Flynn told the court that he lives in Kilbeggan and had known Mr Hanley for 50 years. He was in the Saddler's Inn pub in Kilbeggan on May 21 last year when a man walked in.

The man was wearing jeans and a blue baseball cap.

Earlier, Elizabeth O'Herrin told the court that her father gave Mr Cawley a lift from Mullingar to Kilbeggan on the day of the alleged murder. She said that Mr Cawley was wearing a baseball cap and had a schoolbag.

Mr Flynn told the court that the man who had come into the pub was in his 40s. He had a "little bag" on his shoulder. He called for a drink and then Mr Hanley walked in.

The court heard that Mr Flynn left the pub and returned at approximately 4pm. Mr Hanley and the man were chatting.

Barry Walshe told the court that he works in the Black Kettle pub in Kilbeggan. He said that Mr Hanley used to come into the pub regularly and would talk to him about the possibility of changing coins for notes.

The court heard that Mr Hanley came into the Black Kettle at approximately 12.30pm on the day of the alleged murder and ordered a ginger ale.

He told Mr Walshe he would go home and get the coins.

When he had gone out, another man came in.

Mr Walshe said that the man was in his mid-40s and was wearing a baseball cap.

Mr Hanley returned with the coins, which were kept in a wooden box.

Mr Walshe said that he counted the money - there was €400 in total - and then went into the shop attached to the pub to get notes in exchange.

When he returned, Mr Hanley was talking to the man in the baseball cap. After Mr Walshe gave Mr Hanley the money, Mr Hanley ordered a drink for the man in the baseball cap.

Mr Hanley then left the pub.

Deirdre Robbins was also working in the Black Kettle pub on the same day. She said that she also saw Mr Hanley and the man talking at the bar. She said that she finished before 6pm. When she was driving through the village she saw the man who had been talking to Mr Hanley in the bar standing on the road, looking at the Brosna River.

Eileen Robbins told the court that she was driving through Kilbeggan village on the evening of the alleged murder. She said that she saw Mr Hanley standing inside his door with the door half ajar. "I thought it was unusual cause you'd always see him walking up and down the street."

She said that a man was standing on the footpath, talking to him.

The trial will resume on Monday.