Desmond Duffy pleads not guilty to murder in Dublin

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

Desmond Duffy pleaded not guilty to the murder of Desmond Sullivan. His trial opened at the Central Criminal Court on 6 November 2018.

The proceedings were reported on 6 November 2018. Conor Devally SC told the jury that Duffy and Sullivan shared a home in Somerville Park, Rathmines, Dublin. They were in a civil partnership and due to marry in July 2017.

Mr Devally said the pair had been drinking on 23 May 2016 and had a row after returning home. Sullivan was left lying at the threshold of the kitchen and downstairs bathroom. Duffy then called Sullivan’s nephew, Garda Maurice Ward, who found the body and called gardaí and emergency services.

Mr Devally said Duffy told gardaí he had acted in self-defence, was not the aggressor and had fended off an attack by squeezing Sullivan, strangling his airways and causing his death.

Under cross-examination by Caroline Biggs SC for Duffy, Garda Ward said he had known both men since 1996 and that Duffy had always seemed gentle. He said he had never seen Duffy being physically or verbally aggressive. The trial was continuing when the report was published.