A Central Criminal Court jury has heard that a murder accused told gardaí he was "jabbing back" with a knife during a fight with other men, which resulted in him stabbing his lifelong friend.
“I know it was me. I had the knife. I know I was the one with the knife,” Patrick Murphy (52) told gardaí, going on to accept that he had stabbed Joseph Brosnan. However, the jury heard that Mr Murphy also said that he would not have harmed Mr Brosnan on purpose.
Mr Murphy, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Brosnan, at Abbey Court, Tralee, on May 22nd, 2022.
At the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Detective Garda James Fairbrother gave evidence to counsel for the DPP, Patrick Gageby SC, that when he first interviewed the accused, Mr Murphy said he did not see any weapon produced, telling gardaí that all he knew was that he was assaulted.
Det Gda Fairbrother said the accused told him he had drunk one or two Baileys and taken tablets for anxiety, but that these would not affect his memory.
Garda Fairbrother gave further evidence to Emmet Nolan BL that the accused told gardai that he started drinking and taking tablets before numerous scuffles broke out.
“At some stage, I was being beaten. A knife was produced. I was feeling out of it, and I picked up a knife to defend myself. I didn’t mean to stab Joe,” Mr Murphy said in a garda interview.
Gda Fairbrother said the accused told him that he could not remember if what he had previously told gardaí about taking the knife off someone had happened or not. He said that the group had been drinking brandy, vodka and wine, while the accused had also been taking tablets and sharing them around.
“I remember having a knife in my hand. I didn’t know I got Joe, I didn’t know he was hurt until today,” the accused said.
Gda Fairbrother told the jury that the accused said that “everyone was fighting”, and at one stage he was on the ground, but he said he did not remember fighting with Mr Brosnan.
“I know it was me. I had the knife. I know I was the one with the knife,” the accused told gardaí, going on to say that Mr Brosnan was a friend of his all his life.
“Look, I had the knife, I am responsible. I was in fear, so I picked up the knife. I don’t remember stabbing Joe, but I must have. I remember jabbing back with the knife,” he said, going on to say that he would not have harmed Mr Brosnan on purpose.
At the beginning of the trial, Mr Gageby told the jury that it was the State’s case that Mr Murphy called over to Mr Brosnan’s home, where drinking took place which resulted in some insult passing between Mr Brosnan’s friend Kamil Lisowski and Mr Murphy.
“It fizzled out but not before Mr Lisowski had slapped Mr Murphy in the face,” said Mr Gageby.
Things calmed down and people shook hands but the matter “welled up again” and Mr Murphy was asked to leave.
Mr Gageby said that Mr Murphy later returned and apologised, but he was “pushed out vigorously” of the apartment and fell to the ground outside.
A short time later, Mr Brosnan opened the door to Mr Murphy again and told the accused to go. Counsel said Mr Murphy “seemed to be armed with quite a large kitchen knife and used it to stab Mr Brosnan”.
The jury heard evidence from Mr Lisowski, who said that when Mr Murphy came to the door, he did not hesitate and went immediately to stab Mr Brosnan.
He told defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC: “I believe there was one thing in his head – to stab me or Joseph.”
The witness said that Mr Murphy did not say anything,” he just made a stab”.
“It was like rapid fire with his hand movements. The speed of his arm, it was so fast,” said Mr Lisowski.
The trial continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of eight men and four women.
