Murder accused 'knew of victim's death' in phone call
A man accused of bludgeoning to death his lover’s husband spoke to the victim’s father in a way that suggested he knew his son was dead, a court today heard.
Michael Monaghan, 44, jointly accused of killing Gerald McGinley, telephoned the victim’s father around Christmas 2000, Laganside Crown Court in Belfast was told.
Terence Mooney QC told the jury Gerald McGinley Senior was at home when he received a phone call and spoke to a person who asked whether he recognised him.
“He knew it was Monaghan,” Mr Mooney told the court.
“Mr Monaghan accused Mr McGinley of sending men after him.”
Mr Mooney said the caller seemed to know of the circumstances of Mr McGinley’s death.
“He said to him ‘It wasn’t a professional hit, you know’.
“This suggests he knew Mr McGinley was dead.”
Gerald McGinley’s badly decomposed body was found in a forest nearly a year after he went missing from his County Fermanagh home in August 2000.
His wife, Julie McGinley, 31, and business partner Michael Monaghan, 44, are jointly accused of killing the father-of-two. Both deny the charge.
