A witness has told a murder trial jury that he saw a man "landing punches" on another man's head on the night a 30-year-old Kilkenny man was beaten to death.
Mr Cormac McCarthy was giving evidence in the Central Criminal Court today in the trial of Mr James O'Keefe (22).
The accused has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Simon Hoyne (30) in Kilkenny town on the June bank holiday weekend 2001.
Mr McCarthy told the jury that he came to Kilkenny for the festival with a few friends. They had arranged a place to stay overnight but this fell through and they ended up sleeping in a friend's car near John's Green.
He said he was "woken up" and saw two men: "The first man was falling on he ground and remained there."
The witness said the second man was attacking the man on the ground. "He was standing over him and he was landing punches to his head."
Asked by Mr Patrick McCarthy SC if the man lying on the ground made any movement, the witness said "nothing significant".
Asked how many blows he saw he replied "four to six" punches and one final blow to the head "which was a kick".
"I was able to see both men in their entirety" Mr McCarthy told the court.
Earlier, Mr Thomas Lynch told the court he met Mr Hoyne earlier that evening. They knew each other from work. They had about six or seven pints each in the Kilford Arms Hotel and then went on to a disco.
Mr Lynch said Mr Hoyne was a "quiet fellow". He was in "great form" that evening "he was just smiling and talking to people". The witness said he left the disco to return home while Mr Hoyne went out to the Main Street and he never saw him after that.
Mr O'Keefe of Knockbrack, Kilree, Stoneyford, Co Kilkenny has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Hoyne of Reimeen, Tullarone, Kilkenny on 3rd June 2001 at John's Bridge Kilkenny.
The jury has heard that Mr Hoyne was beaten and kicked to death underneath a bridge at John's Green Kilkenny. He died from fractures to the Adam's apple caused by blunt force trauma.
It is the state's case that the accused murdered Mr Hoyne and that there was no element of provocation or self defence involved.