Martin Purcell murder trial begins in Limerick

A 33-year-old Limerick man has gone on trial, accused of the murder of Martin Purcell, who was found dead with 41 stab wounds at his home.

Gerard Manning with an address at Upper Gerald Griffin Street denies killing the 54-year-old at an apartment on Wickham Street between September 28 and 30, 2011.

Opening the case for the prosecution senior counsel Una Ní Raifeartaigh said Martin Purcell seems to have been a quiet man, who liked to take a drink and loved music, particularly Irish music.

On the September 30 the tenant downstairs from his Wickham Street apartment thought he hadn't seen the 54 year old for a while and alerted the landlord who called round.

The jury was told he opened the door to an horriffic scene.

The body was lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds, his trousers and underwear had been pulled down; the lights and television were on.

The jury has heard in garda interviews Gerard Manning denied ever having known Martin Purcell, or having been in his apartment

Ms Ní Raifeartaigh says that is signigicant because the prosecution alleges two fingerprints in blood at the scene match those of the accused.