A MAN on trial for the murder of a another man in Arklow, Co Wicklow, deliberately drove his car at the victim, flipping him high up into the air, a court has heard.
Anthony O'Reilly (22), Cleggan Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is charged with the murder of Daniel McDonald (21) on Main Street, Arklow, on February 2nd, 2007.
Mr O'Reilly has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McDonald, dangerous driving causing the death of Mr McDonald and intentionally or recklessly grabbing the steering wheel of Jenny Tobin's car, causing it to swerve in the direction of Mr McDonald.
The Central Criminal Court at Dublin heard Mr O'Reilly and Mr McDonald had been fighting in Rascals nightclub before Mr McDonald was struck by Mr O'Reilly's red Honda Civic.
Witnesses told the jury Mr O'Reilly had got in a black car after being thrown out of the club.
Mr McDonald followed and tried to kick him through the open passenger window of the car but got his foot stuck and was dragged up the street until he rolled off.
The car drove off but returned a short time later. Mr McDonald's friend Glen Murphy said he saw a shirtless man in the passenger seat try to push the steering wheel of the black car in their direction before it drove off again.
Mr Murphy told the court the next thing he saw was a red Honda Civic. He said he saw Mr O'Reilly, who was driving, give them the fingers and drive off before returning. Mr McDonald told him he was going to wave the car down.
Mr Murphy said he saw the driver deliberately swerve the car on to the wrong side of the road to hit Mr McDonald. "The car hit Daniel and it hit him so hard, I still have nightmares," Mr Murphy said. "I remember seeing Daniel being flipped in the air. He was hit that hard that he had come level with the top of the pub's roof."
The trial continues.