Andrew Gibney faces murder trial in Dublin

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Andrew Gibney is on trial for murdering Gerard Burnett before the Central Criminal Court, with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy presiding. The proceedings were reported on 15 January 2014.

Gibney has pleaded not guilty. The charge concerns Burnett’s death at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, on 21 August 2012, after the deceased sustained 30 stab wounds.

The prosecution said Gibney participated in the stabbing and told gardaí he used a knife three times. Gibney told gardaí he was drunk and that his intention was not murder; the prosecution said drunkenness was not a defence and that the act was contemplated half an hour beforehand.

Defence questioning established that Burnett had previously stabbed Gibney in the back and that Burnett had carried out burglaries and stolen cars. The trial continued before a jury of nine men and three women.