A 19-year-old Dublin man told gardai he "lost the head" the night he broke into the garage of a 72-year-old woman who was later found dead, a murder trial jury at the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Mr Richard Kearney, Finglas Place, Finglas, denies the charge that on a date unknown between November 23rd and 25th, 1998, he murdered Mary Dillon (72), Beneavin Road, Finglas.
Mr Kearney also denies trespassing at Ms Dillon's home on March 17th, 1998, and attempting to steal her car. He also denies trespassing on Ms Dillon's premises on November 23rd, 1998, to steal a car radio.
Insp John Mulligan, of Finglas Garda station, told the court that he arrested Mr Kearney on the morning of November 27th, 1998, and took a written statement from him. In the statement Mr Kearney said he broke into Ms Dillon's garage to steal a radio from a car parked there.
The statement read: "When I did, I saw a woman coming in the gate. She asked what I was doing there and I said I was hiding, as people were going to kill me. She walked into the garage to see what I was doing. I followed this woman into the garage and I was afraid she was going to know me, so as she walked by the driver's door I went after her and pushed her.
"She fell to the ground. I stood looking at her for a minute. I panicked and I think I got blood on my runners. She wasn't moving. I had to step over her again to get out past her . . . and fled. I was thinking did I kill her or was she all right? I went to bed but didn't sleep. I lost the head on that night and I am sorry now that it happened to that woman."
Previously, the court had heard that Ms Dillon was last seen alive by a friend on the night of November 23rd, 1998.
Two days later another friend, who had previously arranged to meet Ms Dillon that day, became concerned after knocking repeatedly at her door and getting no reply. The matter was reported to Finglas Garda station.
When gardai arrived at Ms Dillon's home she was found partially naked in her garage, having been severely beaten. She was pronounced dead that morning.
The trial before Judge Kevin O'Higgins and a jury continues today.