Thomas "Toddy" Dooley murder trial heard baseball bat account

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

Matthew Cummins, 22, Sean Davy, 21, and James Davy, 25, were on trial for murdering 64-year-old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley. All three had pleaded not guilty.

Mr Dooley was killed at his home in Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, Co Offaly, on 12 February 2014. The proceedings were reported on 25 July 2016. The trial was continuing before Justice Margaret Heneghan.

The report said the court had already heard that Matthew Cummins told gardaí he saw Sean Davy hit Mr Dooley repeatedly with a baseball bat.

Mr Cummins told gardaí he had no idea Mr Dooley would be attacked. He said he thought they were going in to have a few drinks and did not know whether the others had a plan.

The jury also heard interviews Mr Cummins gave at Tullamore Garda Station in February 2014. Detective Garda Joe Hughes agreed with prosecuting counsel Patrick Treacy SC that Mr Cummins said during those interviews that he was afraid to come forward after the killing. Asked why he had not called an ambulance, Mr Cummins said he was too afraid.