Garda testifies at murder trial
The trial of a Co Louth man and woman accused of murdering 29-year-old Darren McKeown in December 2007, will resume at the Central Criminal Court on Monday next.
Louise Wall (aged 21), of Cranmore, Clogherhead and Michael Cruise (aged 19), from Donore Avenue, Ballsgrove in Drogheda have both pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McKeown in Drogheda.
They have also denied a second charge of violent disorder on dates between Christmas and Stephens Day 2007 at the Rowan Heights estate, Rathmullen in Drogheda.
The prosecution is arguing that the case is one of alleged joint enterprise, and that Mr McKeown was assaulted at a Christmas Day party he was attending in the estate.
Senior counsel for the prosecution, Mr Seán Gillane SC, has told the jury that Mr McKeown was subjected to a sustained and vicious attack, and that he never recovered from the head injuries he received.
He said the assault began in the kitchen of a house, then moved outside onto a green area where Mr McKeown was kicked in the head.
He then went back into the sitting room where he was punched and struck with an ashtray, and was later found by emergency services bleeding and unconscious in the driveway.
Mr McKeown was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness and died three days later.
The jury has heard that Wall admitted to “jumping” on Mr McKeown's head during her interviews with Gardai.
In his evidence, Sergeant Fergus O'Toole said that Wall told gardaí she had been drinking at a Christmas Eve party in the estate, and continued drinking when the party resumed the following afternoon.
She told detectives that Mr McKeown and a woman from Rowan Heights became involved in an argument, and said that he hit the woman when she insulted his brother, whom she'd been in a relationship with.
Wall said the woman told her son and his friend who “started on Darren”.
She described how they “were all kicking” Mr McKeown, and she joined in, kicking him twice in the head.
Wall also described how two men were “dancing on his head” and laughing. When pressed by Gardai Wall admitted that she had “jumped” on his head, as well as kicking him.
She admitted that blood on her jeans and runners was Mr McKeown's. She also agreed that he had received “a lot of kicks” and said the assault on him lasted for about an hour.
When asked if Michael Cruise was involved, she said she only saw him kicking once.
The case resumes on Monday morning before the jury of six men and six women.
