Cork man denies Youghal murder and arson

A Co Cork man has gone on trial accused of murdering his neighbour and setting fire to his apartment in Youghal.

Thirty-two-year-old William O'Leary with an address at North Main Street has admitted the manslaughter of Michael O'Shea but denies murder, arson and a charge of burglary on January 13 last year.

Opening the case, prosecution senior counsel Timothy O'Leary told the jury that emergency services were alerted to smoke emanating from the deceased Michael O'Shea's apartment (no 9) in the early hours of January 13 last year.

Mr O'Shea was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered possibly 90 lacerations and injuries to the body.

The court heard William O'Leary, who lived in apartment no 11, became a suspect and that in interviews, he told gardaí there was an altercation and an attack where he lost control and used a knife and something else, when the knife broke.

The prosecution said there may be evidence that runners, some knives, forks, a mobile phone and other property of Michael O' Shea's was stolen by William O'Leary either at the time or shortly after the killing.