Murder accused tells court: 'I killed him, I did not murder him'

Breen, with an address at Nangor Crescent, Clondalkin, gave evidence for his defence in the Central Criminal Court yesterday, saying Mr McLaughlin had run at him during the fight while he was holding the knife in “defensive mode”.

Under cross-examination from Brendan Grehan SC Breen said, “I did kill Martin McLaughlin there’s no doubt about that but I didn’t murder him. There’s a big difference there. Murder has to be intent,” he said.

“I had no intention of doing that I defended myself, it was a drunken row I never expected any of this.”

“I can apologise until I’m blue in the face and I know the McLaughlin family will never accept it,” he said.

It emerged as he gave his evidence the knife used to stab Mr McLaughlin had come from Declan O’Brien who was also celebrating New Year’s at the hotel with the five couples including Breen, his girlfriend Nicola Nugent, Mr McLaughlin and his girlfriend Elaine Fagan. Breen told Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, Mr O’Brien had left it on the bed in room 332 before they all went out.

The court has heard about 4am a fight broke out in room 332.

Breen said Miss Fagan started it by hitting him and had been on at Mr McLaughlin like a broken record all night about two cars stolen from her aunt, which Mr McLaughlin was trying to get back.

During the fracas he had grabbed her hair sparking the fight with Mr McLaughlin.

“He said to me what are ya doing to me bird but before I had a chance to say anything he hit me.”

Breen said they traded sloppy punches and Mr McLaughlin then head-butted him busting his lip and then pinned him on the bed.

“He is a dirty fighter, I don’t want to drag his name through the mud but I seen him fight before.”

He told Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins and the jury Mr McLaughlin had his thumb on his throat and he panicked and saw the knife he so picked it up and stabbed Mr McLaughlin in the arm.

Mr O’Brien was in the room trying to separate them but then Mr McLaughlin charged towards him.

“I had the knife in my hand I raised it not like in a stabbing motion just raised it. In a split second he ran into me.”

The two continued struggling he said wrapping his arms around Mr McLaughlin, concerned was going to bite him, inflicting the third stab wound in his back.

Under cross-examination by Mr Grehan, Breen said it was a flick knife and said he had looked at it when they came back into the room before the fight and had left it on the “counter” beside the bed.

He said the stab in Mr McLaughlin’s arm was in defence but the blow to his chest, which pierced his heart, was an accident.

“Even now you won’t accept that you unlawfully killed him,” Mr Grehan said.

“I accept that I stabbed him,” Breen said.

“23 months later the bottom line is Marty’s dead I’m standing trial for it his family’s ruined, my family’s ruined, my ma doesn’t talk to me and I’m finished with Nicola,” Breen said.

“So you’re the victim with your bust lip?” Mr Grehan asked

“I’m a victim in this and there’s two sides to every story and I want to get my side across.”

Mr Grehan asked him if it was Miss Fagan’s fault.

“I’m not saying the whole thing was her fault.”

“I’m saying everyone Elaine even Marty, everyone played their part. It just snowballed.”

“Mr McLaughlin had no defence injuries to any part of his body?” Mr Grehan said.

“If he had defence injuries it would have looked like I attacked him and I didn’t,” Breen said.

“No you just stabbed him three times,” Mr Grehan said.

Breen said he changed his shirt after the stabbing because it was ripped and said Mr O’Brien had told him to leave the hotel.

He said he had thrown the knife away but did not know where.

Mr Grehan said Breen had constructed a self-serving tissue of events from start to end.

“You weren’t there, me and Elaine were there,” Breen replied.

The case continues tomorrow.