William Gilsenan pleads not guilty to murder in Dublin

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

William Gilsenan, 24, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald, 29. The alleged murder occurred in a car park outside the accused’s home in Santry, Dublin, on 17 October 2014. The proceedings were reported on 2 December 2016.

Charlie Brodigan told prosecuting counsel Orla Crowe that he had travelled by taxi with Mr Gilsenan to the accused’s home. He described an argument over a €100 marijuana debt and said the men threatened one another.

In questioning by defending counsel Caroline Biggs, Mr Brodigan agreed that he had told gardaí Mr Fitzgerald threatened to smash and burn down the accused’s home and burn down his mother’s home. He also agreed that his statement said Mr Fitzgerald had started the row. He described Mr Gilsenan as “shaken” and “white in the face” after the first confrontation.

Mr Brodigan said the argument flared again when Mr Gilsenan approached the car’s open passenger window. He said the deceased threw a punch at Mr Gilsenan through the window before the accused went around to the driver’s side. The witness thought the men were exchanging punches, but said it was over before he reached the car.

He said Mr Gilsenan walked away and later borrowed a bicycle and cycled to his father’s house. Mr Brodigan did not know Mr Fitzgerald had been stabbed; he became aware of the incident’s seriousness when he saw paramedics arriving. The trial was continuing.