Seven accused faced Tallaght murder trial as one admitted disorder

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

Seven accused went on trial before the Central Criminal Court on 11 October 2016, charged with murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton. All seven pleaded not guilty to murder. Apart from Jason Beresford, the accused were Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid and Gerard Stevens. Those six also denied violent disorder.

Jason Beresford pleaded guilty on 12 October 2016 to violent disorder committed on 1 January 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy told the jury that one count had been disposed of and the trial would proceed as normal.

Mr Creighton died on 2 January 2014 following an incident at the footbridge between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road.

Witness Carl O'Leary said he saw Mr Creighton with a knife. Under defence cross-examination, he agreed that he had assumed Mr Creighton had stolen a phone after hearing a shout. Although his Garda statement linked his stopping to seeing a knife, he told the court he had backed away because the man ran at him and had not seen the knife then. He confirmed that he later saw Mr Creighton with a knife, but had not seen James Reid take it from him.

The proceedings were reported on 13 October 2016. The trial was continuing before a jury of six men and six women.