David Mahon pleads not guilty to murder charge in Dublin

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

David Mahon, aged 46, pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court on 25 April 2016. A jury was then sworn in.

He is charged with murdering his stepson, Dean Fitzpatrick, on 26 May 2013. Mr Fitzpatrick, aged 23, was stabbed in the abdomen on the landing outside Mr Mahon’s apartment at Burnell Square, Northern Cross, in Dublin.

Opening the prosecution case, Remy Farrell said Mr Mahon’s bicycle had been interfered with outside their gym on 24 May 2013. He said Mr Mahon later phoned Mr Fitzpatrick to come to his apartment, where a confrontation followed. The prosecution alleged Mr Mahon returned with a carving knife and stabbed Mr Fitzpatrick in the abdomen.

Mr Farrell also recounted Mr Mahon’s explanation that it had been an accident: he had taken the knife from Mr Fitzpatrick, who had walked onto it, impaling himself. He said Mr Mahon had also suggested Mr Fitzpatrick was suicidal.

Mr Farrell told jurors they would have great difficulty reconciling that account with the injuries. He said the wound track was 14cm long and the knife had cut the aorta.

The jury heard Mr Fitzpatrick ran off, collapsed nearby and died the following day.

The proceedings were reported on 26 April 2016. The trial was continuing.