Murder trial heard Keith Brady apologised to deceased’s family

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

Keith Brady told gardai he was deeply sorry and would give his life for Martin 'Matt' Kivlehan if he could, his murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard. The proceedings were reported on 16 November 2017.

Brady, of Cartron Estate, Sligo, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Kivlehan, 59. The manslaughter plea was not accepted. The case concerned Kivlehan’s death at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo, on 2 or 3 August 2015.

Garda David Hannigan told the court that Brady was interviewed five times at Sligo Garda Station on 4 and 5 August 2015. In his final interview, Brady said he wanted to tell Kivlehan’s family he was “very deeply sorry” and that, if he could give his life for Kivlehan’s, he would.

Brady said he had taken Xanax and heroin and that things had got out of control. He said he thought Kivlehan had touched his sister Janice, after which he “lost it” and stabbed him. He said Janice then put the knife to Kivlehan’s throat, but he did not see her stab him.

Brady indicated that he had stabbed Kivlehan in the left chest. When gardai said the injuries were to the neck rather than the body, he replied: “I never stabbed anybody in the neck.” He denied covering for his sister, said he did not know if he had really killed Kivlehan and said he had no intention of killing anyone. The trial was due to continue before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.