Closing stages in trial of woman accused of killing close friend
The trial of a mother-of-four accused of her close friend’s manslaughter has reached its closing stages at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michelle Brannigan (aged 36) with an address at Hill Street, Dublin 1, has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Tracey O’Brien (aged 31) at Parnell Square West on June 25, 2009.
Earlier in the trial, Detective Sergeant Des McTiernan revealed that Ms Brannigan said she told Ms O’Brien that she didn’t wish to fight her because she knew she was ill, but then began “throwing digs” at her when she realised the deceased had been hitting her “sly digs” with a phone.
Ms Brannigan said in interview that during the fight she thought they both fell when the deceased tripped her, but later found out from another man present that her ex-boyfriend Wesley Ward had pulled Ms O’Brien to the ground.
Det Sgt McTiernan agreed with Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, defending, that her client answered all garda questions, declined a solicitor during interview and co-operated in a “fulsome way.”
He further agreed that Ward had pleaded guilty to Ms O’Brien’s manslaughter on the basis of a skull injury sustained in the fall.
Judge Tony Hunt will direct the jury of eight men and four women to begin deliberations tomorrow.
