Accused claims: I was with married woman at the time
A Dublin man accused of murder told gardaí that he was with a married woman on the night of the alleged murder, the Central Criminal Court heard today.
Brian Rattigan (aged 28), Cooley Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (aged 20), Mourne Rd, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Rd, Crumlin on August 25, 2001.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that had pulled up outside the Abrakebabra fast-food outlet at Crumlin Shopping Centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.
Det Supt Dominic Hayes told Mr Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, that he interviewed Mr Rattigan on September 4, 2001.
When asked where he was on the night of the alleged murder, Mr Rattigan said that he was with a married woman whose “fella was away”.
The jury heard that Mr Rattigan would not tell the gardaí who the woman was.
“No f**king way, you can find her for yourself,” he said.
When it was put to Mr Rattigan that “a lot of people witnessed the stabbing that night”, Mr Rattigan said: “They can say what they like but they will all have to say it in court.”
When asked if he was near Abrakebabra on the night of the alleged murder, Mr Rattigan said: “I can’t remember where I was. I wasn’t near that place. I wouldn’t eat that s**te.”
Mr Rattigan told the gardaí that he had not been to the Abrakebabra at the Crumlin Shopping Centre for "four months".
Mr Brendan Grehan SC, defending, put it to Det Supt Hayes that Mr Rattigan has “no recollection” of saying that he had not been to Abrakebebra in four months.
Det Supt Hayes said: “His replies were noted. He agreed they were correct.”
Det Gda Damien Scanlon told the court that he took finger- and palm-prints of Mr Rattigan on November 22, 2001 and that he gave them to Det Gda Declan Treacy at the fingerprint section of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Det Gda Caroline Hughes told the court that she took photographs of finger marks that were on the window of the Abrakebabra at the Crumlin Shopping Centre on August 25, 2001.
The trial resumes on Monday.
