Man, 20, accused of murder says he acted in self defence

A 20 year old traveller on trial for murdering a man, who was in his mobile home in Dublin, maintains his actions were in self-defence.

A jury has been told the law gives latitude to homeowners in such cases, as in the Padraig Nally case.

The trial heard Martin Keenan and his wife came back to their mobile home at a halting site in Dunsink Lane in Finglas in June 2016 - to find a man and his girlfriend inside it.

The then 18 year old told gardai he believed the couple were junkies and said the man ran at him and he picked up some ‘yoke’ and hit him with it.

The deceased – Wesley Mooney – received two stab wounds from half a garden shears and died at the scene.

Martin Keenan of Cardiffsbridge Avenue in Finglas denies murder and said he was acting in-defence for him and his wife

His barrister told the jurors they had probably heard of the Padraig Nally case – but said crime can happen in all communities and travellers can be the victims of trespassing and burglaries too.

He said there was evidence of a burglary at the accused’s mobile home that day.

The prosecution has said, however, that the law of self-defence is a shield and not a sword and the accused had acted disproportionately on the night in question.

- Digital Desk