Limerick murder trial begins
A 38-year-old Limerick man went on trial in the Central Criminal Court today for the murder of another man who died after being stabbed and cut 63 times.
Mr Gerard Hayes of Swallow Drive, John Carew Park, Limerick has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr John Robinson (aged 20) of Deer Court, John Carew Park, on January 22/23, 2000 at John Carew Park.
The jury heard that the deceased man had been staying in the accused's house when the incident took place in the early hours of the morning of January 23.
Mr Robinson was away from his parent's house at Deer Court because of a barring order against him. He had been sleeping on the floor of Gerard Hayes’ bedroom in a sleeping bag.
Prosecution counsel Mr Gerard Clarke SC told the jury they would hear evidence that on Saturday January 22, both men had some drink taken and a row developed.
Sometime around 1.30am the accused came downstairs and he had a cut on his head.
The accused’s mother Kathleen Hayes alerted Mr Robinson’s parents and asked them to come over to the house.
John Robinson was slumped on the bedroom floor in a large pool of blood.
A post mortem showed the deceased sustained 36 stab wounds and 27 incisions mainly to the head, face, chest and arms. The cause of death was loss of blood due to two stab wounds to the jugular vein on both sides of the neck, the jury was told.
In evidence Mr Dermot Robinson, the deceased’s father, told the court that when he arrived at the Hayes house he saw the accused man who pointed to a slight cut to his forehead.
Mr Robinson said he saw his son John on the floor. He was lifeless.
"I could not describe the amount of blood that was on the floor," he told the jury.
Cross-examined by Mr Michael Bowman BL, defence, Mr Robinson said the deceased could be cranky and contrary with drink taken, but denied that he carried a weapon or that he had been in trouble with the gardai.
Counsel put it to the witness that there was a previous incident between the deceased and one of his other sons involving a knife.
No, the witness replied, "I would not say so". Counsel further suggested that the deceased man "brought a knife into the Hayes house on the night in question".
"I would find that very hard to believe sir," Mr Robinson replied.
The witness said he had known Gerard Hayes for years and that he was "completely shocked" by what he is alleged to have done.
The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney continues tomorrow.
