Man denies he helped to 'bludgeon' teacher to death

A 21-year-old man charged with murder was yesterday accused of participating in the "bludgeoning" of a former school teacher …

A 21-year-old man charged with murder was yesterday accused of participating in the "bludgeoning" of a former school teacher to death.

Mr Darren Wallace, Assumpta Park, Lee Estate, Limerick, denies the murder of Mr Noel Carmody at Arthur's Quay Park on September 27th, 2003.

A co-accused, Mr Johnathan Tuohy (19), Edward Street, Limerick, has also denied killing Mr Carmody.

Both men also deny robbing the 42-year-old former maths teacher on the same date.

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Yesterday, during cross- examination, , Mr John Edwards SC, prosecuting, accused Mr Wallace of participating with Mr Tuohy in the "bludgeoning" of Mr Carmody, who, the court has already heard, died after being struck several times with an iron bar.

Mr Edwards said Mr Carmody's extensive injuries were the result of two people "savagely" hitting and kicking him.

Mr Wallace denied striking Mr Carmody and said it was Mr Tuohy who hit him with the iron bar.

"I did not hit that man, not once, not ever. I did no damage to Mr Carmody," Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace told the court that he grabbed the iron bar from Mr Tuohy and that was why his fingerprints were found on the weapon which gardaí found at the scene.

The court has already heard Garda evidence that Mr Wallace was found with Mr Carmody's Visa receipt and a bus ticket when he was arrested.

Yesterday, Mr Wallace said he did not touch Mr Carmody's property and said he could not explain how the victim's pockets were turned out when gardaí arrived at the scene.

"I did not go near Noel Carmody's property," Mr Wallace said. "I did not touch Noel Carmody."

The trial, now in its fifth week, continues today before Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick.