Jimmy Devaney denies murder as trial hears of €1,000 loan

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

Jimmy Devaney denies murdering 37-year-old Marie Green. The proceedings were reported on 17 July 2015.

The alleged murder took place at Annagorta bog in Ballykieran, outside Athlone, on 13 February 2011.

On the second day of the trial, the jury heard that Devaney contacted Joseph Hanny, a garda in Ballinasloe, on 30 January 2011 and asked to borrow €1,000. Hanny knew him from the Lighthouse Casino in Athlone, where he regularly played cards.

The report said Devaney needed the money for a family emergency. He said he did not want his wife to know, which was why he could not go to the credit union. Hanny gave him the money on condition that he repay it within one week.

Joseph Kenny, who ran tournaments at the Lighthouse Casino, told the court that Devaney arrived late for a poker tournament on the night of the alleged murder. He noticed cuts around Devaney’s knuckles and that his shirt was torn on the right side.

Kenny said Devaney explained that he had to “give a lad a tow” and had fallen into a ditch when getting out of his jeep. Kenny said Devaney appeared agitated by the questions.

The prosecution alleged that the woman worked as a prostitute and Devaney was a client. Its case was that he stabbed her five to six times because she was blackmailing him for money and threatening to expose their relationship to his wife.