Courts / Kildare / Report

Young Kildare man "smacked" in head by man wielding baseball bat, murder trial hears

Summary

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was 'smacked' at the back of his head by a man wielding a baseball bat after the deceased hit a parked van 'a thump'. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dunne. Today, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC called witness Mikey McDonagh, a 20-year-old from Kildare, who testified that he met Mr Dunne and another friend, Gavin Breen, on the night in question. The group met three girls at the harbour in Naas before walking home. Mikey McDonagh stated that Mr Dunne hit the van once with his fist, making 'a noise', and then ran as a man with a baseball bat chased him. The witness described the man as bald and wearing glasses. Mr Dunne was struck at the back of his head and fell to the ground. In cross-examination, Mikey McDonagh agreed that Mr Dunne struck the van more than once. Gavin Breen, 21, also testified, stating that he saw the man strike Mr Dunne with a baseball bat at the side of his head. A teenage girl from Naas testified that she saw the man hit Mr Dunne once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Young Kildare man "smacked" in head by man wielding baseball bat, murder trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16 2014; murdering Mr Dunne. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 16 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 16 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-25 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report