Joseph Hillen on trial for murder after pleading not guilty

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

Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to murdering taxi driver Martin Mulligan at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on 28 September 2015. The proceedings were reported on 2 October 2018.

Prosecuting counsel Patrick Treacy opened the trial before a jury on 2 October 2018. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan said Hillen accepted inflicting the two knife injuries that caused Mulligan’s death. Hillen said he had acted to protect himself and had no intention of killing him.

The report said Hillen told gardaí that, after a struggle, Mulligan emerged from a car holding a knife. Hillen said he tried to grab it, cut his own hand and gained control of the knife. He said he was being struck on the head when he jabbed out twice.

Treacy said the jury would have to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Hillen was not acting in self-defence to return a guilty verdict. The trial was continuing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.