Murder accused entitled to defend himself in own home, defence tell jury

At the Central Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of Matusz Batiuk, who denies murdering Michael McDonagh at a housing estate in Swinford, County Mayo, on 16 November 2020. The defence contended that Mr Batiuk, aged 33, acted lawfully in self-defence when he inflicted a fatal knife wound in his own home. Defence counsel emphasised that the accused's initial statement to emergency services was…