A Kerry man accused of murdering a teenager walked into a Garda station and said he knew who had murdered the man, a jury in the Central Criminal Court has been told.
Det Garda Martin Nolan told the court the accused came into Tralee Garda station early on February 27th, 1997, and said "one of my staff got killed, James Healy. I know who did it. He was murdered at about 2.30 to 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.
"I was about 60 yards away from it. I saw (a named man) come out of the field where he was killed and two others who I didn't know. I was watching them. I keep a watch always," he allegedly said.
Mr Michael O'Brien (27), single and unemployed, of Gallowsfield, Tralee, Co Kerry pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Healy (16) of Shanakill, Tralee, Co Kerry at Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee, on or about February 22nd, 1997.
Garda Nolan said he invited the defendant to return to the station at midday but he did not turn up.
After having been missing for three days, Mr Healy's body was found on waste ground off the Monavalley Road in Tralee.
The trial before Mr Justice Kinlen and a jury of eight women and four men continues today.