Anthony Walsh goes on trial for murder in Swords

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

Anthony Walsh has gone on trial for murder at the Central Criminal Court following the death of Dermot Byrne in Swords, Co Dublin, on 16 July 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to stealing Byrne’s bank card, keys and lighter. The proceedings were reported on 11 October 2018. The trial was being heard before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.

Prosecuting counsel Vincent Heneghan said the prosecution case was that Walsh savagely beat Byrne and intended to kill or cause him serious injuries. He said jurors would hear evidence that significant force had been used to inflict more than 100 injuries. The court heard Byrne died from a traumatic brain injury.

The prosecution said Byrne tried to pull a cigarette from Walsh’s mouth. Walsh’s friends convinced him to walk away, but Byrne followed him and grabbed his jacket and jumper. Heneghan said nobody had witnessed the assault. Defence counsel Fiona Pekaar said Walsh admitted unlawfully killing Byrne and removing and taking away his property and clothes.