A man accused of murdering his Naval Service crewmate told gardaí he broke a brush handle on his head in a row on board the flagship, LE Eithne.
The Central Criminal Court heard yesterday that apprentice ship mechanic Mr Seán Lundon also told gardaí he took Able Seaman Brian Gorey up on deck for air but he "slipped away" into the water and drowned.
Garda Andrew Morrison was giving evidence in the trial of Mr Lundon (21), James Connolly Park, Tipperary town. Mr Lundon denies the murder of Able Seaman Gorey (21), Castletroy View, Limerick, at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, on in April 2001.
Garda Morrison told the court Mr Lundon made a statement two days after the drowning. He said he had had "a bit of a row" with Mr Gorey in the recreation room of the ship, some hours after they had separately returned to the Eithne from pubs in the city centre.
According to Mr Lundon's statement, Mr Gorey was asleep on a couch but woke up just as Mr Lundon was finishing a pint in "the rec".
In the statement, Mr Lundon admitted hitting Mr Gorey with a brush after he threw an ashtray at him. "Brian got up and came over and started having a go at me."
He told gardaí he picked up the brush and hit Mr Gorey with the handle "once or twice" on the side of the head" and he fell to the ground. He then picked him up and took him up on deck for some air.
"I was sitting him down on the ledge of the afterdeck . . . just then he pushed me away. He slipped and was gone from me. He was gone into the water," the statement read.
He also told gardaí "I think I shouted for the QM" (quartermaster), but he "panicked and ran inside".
The statement continued: "I'm sorry for what has happened to Brian" and for his family.
The court also heard that gardaí seized a pair of bloodstained cream-coloured trousers from Mr Lundon's locker on board ship. When first questioned, he claimed he was wearing navy jeans on the night in question.
He later admitted to wearing cream trousers when gardaí produced a photograph taken on Busker's nightclub that night which showed him wearing cream trousers.
Cross-examined by Mr Brendan Grehan SC, defending, Garda Morrison said Mr Lundon seemed to be relieved to be telling gardaí what happened. "The getting-it-off-your-chest kind of relief?" Mr Grehan asked. "Yes my lord," the garda replied.
The trial continues.