Accused 'pushed deceased', then fell from ship
A man on trial for the murder of his Naval Service crewmate told gardai he pushed the deceased into the chest who then went over the side of the ship and drowned, the Central Criminal Court heard today.
"He was struggling with me, he was kind of slapping out at me. I was trying to defend myself and I pushed him back hard into the chest and he went into the water", the accused told gardai.
Detective Garda Brendan Supple, Pearse Street garda station, was giving evidence in the trial of apprentice ship mechanic Sean Lundon (aged 21) of James Connolly Park, Tipperary town.
Mr Lundon denies the murder of Able Seaman Brian Gorey (aged 21) of Devon Close, Castletroy View, Limerick, at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin on April 22, 2001.
Detective Garda Supple told Tom O’Connell SC prosecuting that the accused, during questioning, said he and the deceased had a row in the recreation room on board the L.E Eithne.
Brian Gorey had been asleep on a couch. The accused said when he tried to shake him awake to see if he wanted to go to bed, Mr Gorey fired an ashtray at him.
The accused reacted by punching him in the face with clenched fists and hitting him on the head with a brush handle.
Garda Supple told counsel the accused said he carried Brian Gorey over his shoulder to the deck for some fresh air. As the accused sat him on top of the deck rail, Mr Gorey was struggling and went overboard.
"I tried to grab him by the lower part of his body. When he went into the water I cried for help", Mr Lundon told gardai. He said he panicked and ran off the deck. Asked by gardai why he had not left Mr Gorey in the recreation room after the assault, he replied "I panicked and lost control of the situation".
In cross-examination, defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC asked the witness if some consideration had been given to recording garda interviews using the facilities in another garda station. "No My Lord" the witness replied.
The court has heard that both men had spent the night drinking in the city centre and returned separately to the ship on the night in question. Detective Garda Supple agreed with Mr Grehan that there appeared to be "no adverse history" or animosity between the two men.
The trial continues tomorrow.
