Limerick man accused of murder admits he was identified from CCTV

A 33-year-old Limerick man charged with murder has admitted that he can be seen discharging four gunshots on CCTV footage of the killing.

John Coughlan of Pineview Gardens, Moyross has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Daniel Treacy (aged 35) at the Topaz garage, Caherdavin, Ennis Road, Limerick on February 22, 2010.

The Central Criminal Court trial has heard that the bread delivery man was shot while in the petrol station shop and died from multiple gunshot wounds.

He sustained four wounds in total: one to the side of the face, two to the top of the head and one to the groin.

On the third day of the trial today, Una Ni Raifeartaigh SC, prosecuting, read out a number of facts admitted on behalf of the accused.

They included that the accused admitted he was identified from CCTV from the Topaz garage that morning, and that he could be seen discharging four shots.

The jury viewed CCTV of the shooting earlier in the week but the deceased was not visible in any of the footage.

Exhibits officer Garda Neil O'Gorman then identified a number of exhibits recovered in Co Kerry the day after the killing.

These included a pair of white Nike runners, size nine, that Ballybunion Gardaí had recovered from Lady’s Beach in the town.

Gda O’Gorman explained that blood found on these runners proved a positive match for Mr Coughlan’s DNA.

In her opening speech on Wednesday, Ms Ni Raifeartaigh told the court that Mr Coughlan’s brother, Darren, was killed in November 2005 when he was beaten by a number of people.

She said Mr Treacy’s brother was among those convicted of the killing and it was the prosecution’s case that this shooting was deliberately carried out as revenge.

She said that the defence would say Mr Coughlan was ill at the time and had diminished responsibility, and that the case would be about his mental state at the time.

The trial continues with Mr Justice Paul Carney presiding.