Dale Creighton murder trial hears Graham Palmer interview evidence

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

The Central Criminal Court jury in the trial of seven people charged with murdering Dale Creighton heard evidence from Graham Palmer’s garda interviews on 21 October 2016. The proceedings were reported on 21 October 2016.

Dale Creighton, 20, was attacked on New Year’s Day 2014 on a footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between St Dominic’s Road and Greenhills Road. He died in hospital the following day.

Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford and Gerard Stevens had all pleaded not guilty to murder. Each initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the footbridge. Jason Beresford later pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Garda Alan Young told the court he interviewed Graham Palmer several times on New Year’s Day 2014. Graham Palmer initially denied touching Dale Creighton. He said Dale Creighton was already “black and blue” before he reached the bridge, with blood coming from his eyes, and that he had approached because Aisling Burke was hysterical.

After being shown CCTV footage, Graham Palmer identified himself crouching over Dale Creighton and said he had tried to prevent others kicking and punching him. He accepted that he had slapped Dale Creighton in the stomach but said this was to “get his attention”. He agreed he had hit him again and later admitted also punching him in the face. He said he deeply regretted his actions.

The trial was continuing.