Seamus Morgan pleads not guilty to murder charge

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

Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court on 11 January 2016.

He is charged with murdering Laurence Keane in Athy, Co Kildare, on 19 July 2013.

A forensic scientist told the trial that blood stains on Morgan’s runners matched Mr Keane’s DNA profile.

Detective Sergeant Sean Boland agreed that Morgan had told gardaí Mr Keane was still alive when he left him in the laneway. Under questioning by defence counsel Sean Gillane SC, the detective also agreed that Morgan had said their differences had been settled and there had been no scuffle. Morgan had told gardaí he left Mr Keane at the top of the hill and that Mr Keane had problems getting up the hill. The detective agreed Morgan had accepted being in the laneway but denied killing Mr Keane. These statements were Morgan’s account to gardaí.

The proceedings were reported on 14 January 2016. The trial was continuing.