Shane Geoghegan trial: Accused admitted shooting in garda interview

The man on trial charged with murdering Shane Geoghegan was shown bullets recovered from his body and said that he was responsible for putting them there.

Barry Doyle’s interview by two detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was shown on video to the jury in his trial today.

The father-of-three from Portland Row, Dublin is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with murdering the 28-year-old rugby player on November 9, 2008.

Barry Doyle (aged 26) has pleaded not guilty to his murder at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle in Limerick. The Garryowen player was shot near his home in a case of mistaken identity.

Detective Garda Mark Philips and Detective Garda Brian Hanley showed Barry Doyle a number of exhibits on the morning of November 28, 2009 on his fourth day in custody.

He agreed that the hat they showed him was like the one Shane Geoghegan was wearing that night but he said he didn’t notice the rest of the rugby player’s clothing as he killed him.

He was shown discharged cartridges found at the scene and was asked if they were from the bullets he fired.

“They could be, yeah,” he replied.

He was then shown five discharged cartridges found in the back garden where Mr Geoghegan’s body was discovered.

“Did you fire five shots in the back garden?” he was asked. “I can remember shooting two when I leaned over,” he said, explaining that he meant when he was leaning over the victim. He said he couldn’t remember firing any more.

“What were you pointing the gun at?” he was asked.

“Shane,” he replied.

He was then shown the three bullets recovered from the rugby player’s body during the post-mortem examination, starting with one taken from his right upper back.

“How did that bullet get there?” he was asked.

“When I shot him,” he replied.

He was asked to explain how another bullet had entered the top of Mr Geoghegan’s shoulder and how a third had entered his head.

“When I shot him,” he replied again.

At the end of the interview he was asked if his conscience was clear and he nodded his head.

In an earlier interview, he had refused to tell the detectives who was in the getaway car with him on the night of the murder.

“Are you in fear?” he was asked.

“No,” he replied.

He was asked if he thought that the people who carried out the murder with him should pay too and if Mr Geoghegan’s parents deserved to have everyone involved brought to justice.

“There’s nothing I can do,” he said. “I admitted what I did.”

He was asked to tell them about the events leading up to the murder.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he replied.

“Why not?” he was asked.

“I just don’t,” he said.

“When you fired into Shane’s head, why did you stop?” he was asked.

“He just slid down. I just turned and ran,” he replied.

"Did you think he was seriously injured? Did you think he was dead?” asked one of the detectives.

“I didn’t really think of it. I just ran,” he replied.

“But obviously it was your intention to kill him. Isn’t that fair to say?” he was asked.

“Yeah,” he said, agreeing that he regretted it now.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.