A man accused of murder brought gardaí to a country lay-by where they discovered items taken from the body of a deaf man beaten to death, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Det Garda Gerry Fitzpatrick, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, was giving evidence in the trial of Mr Michael Sage (26), of Glenacre, Killaloe, Co Clare, who is accused of murdering Mr John Carroll (22).
Mr Sage has pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Carroll, of Cappamore, Co Limerick, at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co Tipperary, on December 4th, 1998.
He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of falsely imprisoning Mr Carroll on the same date.
Garda Fitzpatrick said the accused man directed gardaí to a location in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, where they discovered a burnt travel pass and payslip belonging to Mr Carroll.
The court heard that the accused told gardaí that he burned the items because he did not want them found on him.
Garda Fitzpatrick said the accused man told gardaí that at the murder scene another man, William "Ning" Roche, asked him to open the boot of the car and pass him a ratchet with which he hit Mr Carroll about the head.
The jury heard that Mr Sage directed gardaí to a quarry on the main Dublin to Limerick road and pointed to a spot behind a timber fence where they discovered a ratchet.
The court has heard that William Roche was convicted of Mr Carroll's murder earlier this year and that Ms Deirdre Rose, who is now Mr Sage's wife, was charged with murder but acquitted.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Sage was part of a conspiracy to assault and rob Mr Carroll, whose badly beaten body was found in a lonely boreen near Ballinhinch, Co Tipperary.
The victim suffered several blows to the head with a heavy object.
These were inflicted with such force that fragments of the skull were driven into brain tissue.
The trial continues on Monday.