A HOMELESS man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court yesterday to the unlawful killing of a Dublin man in the city last year.
Brendan Comiskey (38), of no fixed address, admitted killing Edward Connell (25), also known as Edward Kelly, at Seville Place, Dublin, between 10 p.m. on December 4th, 1995, and 1.30 p.m. the next day.
A second man, Michael Dunne (36), of Croftwood Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Connell on the same dates and to assaulting and inuring him.
Mr Justice Morris adjourned sentence of both men to November 29th and agreed to a request from Mr Gregory Murphy SC, for Comiskey, to direct the preparation of a probation report on his client.
Edward Connell, originally from Thornville Drive, Kilbarrack, Dublin, died as a result of a stab wound to his right shoulder in a flat at Seville Place.
Comiskey and Duane were due to go on trial yesterday for the murder of Connell. Both pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder when first arraigned and they denied charges of unlawful killing and false imprisonment.
However, a few minutes later Comiskey was re arraigned at the request of his counsel and he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the unlawful killing of Connell.
Mr Joseph Mathews SC, prosecuting, asked for time to seek instructions from the DPP and the trial was adjourned for 15 minutes. When the court resumed, Mr Mathews said he wanted both defendants re arraigned.
Comiskey was re arraigned on a single count of the unlawful killing of Connell and pleaded guilty.
Duane was re arraigned on one count of false imprisonment and another count of assault. He admitted falsely imprisoning Connell and he also pleaded guilty to assaulting Connell, occasioning actual bodily harm.