Trial of cootehill murdercharged begins

Ruaidhrí Giblin
in Dublin

A Dublin man has gone on trial charged with the murder of Emmett Connolly in Cootehill, 18 months ago.
Kevin Moran (30) of Lodgeview, Cootehill, Co Cavan, but originally from Shankill, is charged with the murder of archaeologist Emmet Connolly (32) at Lodgeview, Cootehill, on September 29, 2013.
The widowed father-of-three pleaded “not guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter”.
Counsel for the DPP, Paddy McCarthy SC, said gardaí went to the house at 12.55am. On entering the kitchen, they saw a man whose arms were “hanging lifelessly by his side”, surrounded by blood.
Mr McCarthy said there was no previous history between Mr Moran and Mr Connolly.
Mr Connolly, just back from Australia, had called to the home of Gerard Birt that afternoon and they had a couple of cans of beer.
While watching the match, Mr Birt was on Facebook chatting to Mr Moran. They agreed to meet in a local pub in Cootehill. Mr Birt and Mr Connolly had “six or seven” pints, while Mr Moran had two Fat Frogs.
At 7.30pm, all three were in Mr Moran’s house. At 8pm Mr Birt put Mr Moran’s twin children to bed and at 9pm he went to bed himself.
Counsel said a row developed between Mr Moran and Mr Connolly. Mr Moran suggested that Mr Connolly wanted drugs but no drugs were gotten.
Mr Moran told gardaí that Mr Connolly grabbed him, so “I boxed him in the face”. Mr Moran said both of them fell to the ground and started hitting each other again.
Mr Moran said he managed to get up, was “freaked out” and grabbed a kitchen knife. The defendant told gardaí Mr Connolly was coming toward him when he thrust his arm forward and hit him in the stomach with the knife.

'Excessive force’
Mr McCarthy said there were no wounds to the stomach of Mr Connolly. There was a wound to his chest and all other wounds were to his shoulder and back.
Counsel said the prosecution will say “excessive force” was used by Mr Moran on Mr Connolly.
Mr Birt said that, after the kids had gone to bed, Mr Moran rang a few people. They had talked about getting some ecstasy but hadn’t gotten any, he said.
Mr Moran and Mr Connolly were talking loudly about “football banter” but it wasn’t a row, it was “nothing really”, Mr Birt said.
Mr Birt said he knew Mr Moran’s partner and mother of his children died in September, 2011. When asked if he was conscious of the anniversary of her death, Mr Birt said “yes”.
He said he didn’t know how Mr Moran’s partner died and, when it was suggested that she died from the effects of ecstasy, Mr Birt said “oh, right”.
The trial continues.