Garda denies using murder suspect's girlfriend as bait for confession

The defence has accused Gardaí of lying over a confession made by the man on trial for shooting Limerick rugby player Shane Geoghegan.

Barry Doyle, with addresses in Limerick and Portland Row in Dublin, denies murdering the 28-year-old on November 9, 2008, in a suspected case of mistaken identity.

Det Sgt Mike Philips said he totally rejects defence claims that Barry Doyle was unlawfully induced into making a confession that he shot Shane Geoghegan.

He was being quizzed about a Garda memo in which the accused’s solicitor told officers his client would admit to the killing if his girlfriend Vicky Gunnery was released from garda custody.

She was being held at the time on suspicion of possessing information.

The memo said gardaí told the solicitor there was no way this was possible and under cross examination Det Sgt Philips insisted the deal was rejected "immediately" and "very clearly" as an inducement that could not stand up in court.

The prosecution evidence has now concluded, the defence is not calling any witnesses and the trial will enter its closing stages on Friday.