A JURY at the trial of a man accused of murder heard he “blew away” the victim with a shotgun as he lay in bed with his partner.
Trevor McCabe (35), Mountpleasant, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Darren McGrath (33) in Belturbet, Co Cavan, in May 2008.
Opening the case in the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting, said it was the State’s case that Mr McCabe had shot Mr McGrath twice while he slept.
“These shots literally blew Darren McGrath away,” Mr Sammon said.
The court heard that shortly before 5am on the day of the killing, a man came into the bedroom of Mr McGrath and his partner Nicole Lennon, while they slept.
Ms Lennon was awoken by the presence of someone in the room. A man leaned over her and fired twice at Mr McGrath. Ms Lennon would give evidence that this man was Mr McCabe, Mr Sammon told the court.
He said Ms Lennon’s visual identification of him was only part of the evidence which would be presented during the trial.
Important evidence would be given, he added, that Mr McCabe was involved in an accident three years ago in which his left leg was seriously injured.
Mr Sammon said this was “extremely significant” as a neighbour of Mr McGrath would give evidence that on the morning in question, he was awoken by the two shotgun blasts.
He looked out of his window and saw two men walking away from Mr McGrath’s home, one of whom had an obvious limp.
Ms Lennon had known Mr McCabe for two years before the shooting but they were “not particularly friendly”, Mr Sammon said. Mr McCabe had attended the christening of Mr McGrath and Ms Lennon’s child.
He told the jury all the evidence would add up to show that Ms Lennon was “dead right” when she came to the view Mr McCabe had killed her partner.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Barry White.