A 19-year-old man was oblivious to an impending attack on him by three young men, one of whom "danced" on his head, a murder trial jury heard.
At the opening of the trial of three men accused of the murder of Mr Brian Mulvaney, prosecution counsel told the jury they would have to consider what each intended when they set about "beating and battering" the young man to death.
Mr Brian Willoughby (24), of Orwell Park, Templeogue; Mr Neal Barbour (20), of Domville Road, Templeogue; and another teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny the murder of Mr Mulvaney, of Firhouse, Dublin, on March 11th, 2000, at Templeogue.
At the Central Criminal Court Mr Tom O'Connell SC, prosecuting, said the State's case was that three men "acted together as a gang" when they beat Mr Mulvaney to death.
Mr Mulvaney, the eldest of two children, was found unconscious with head injuries at Watercourse, Orwell Park Drive, in Templeogue, early on March 11th. He died later in hospital.
The court heard that Mr Mulvaney and Mr Willoughby met at a party in a mutual friend's house in Templeogue on the night of the killing. Mr O'Connell told the jury that Mr Willoughby was jealous of Mr Mulvaney at the party because a girl he was "infatuated" with, Suzanne McVey, fancied Mr Mulvaney.
"Mr Willoughby was feeling jealous about the fact that Mr Mulvaney was the centre of Miss McVey's attention and not Mr Willoughby, whom she had rejected," Mr O'Connell said.
"Brian Mulvaney tried to kiss her, and this was seen by Mr Willoughby," he continued.
Most of the party-goers had been drinking and smoking hash and some, including Mr Mulvaney, had taken ecstasy.
Mr Barbour and the third accused were not at the party, but they met Mr Willoughby after he had walked with Brian Mulvaney to the nearby Orwell Shopping Centre at 2 a.m. to buy cigarette papers.
"Mr Willoughby spoke to Neal Barbour and [the third defendant] and invited them to assist in battering Mr Mulvaney," counsel said. "But there was also a certain territorial aspect to it. Mr Mulvaney was not from that area, and these young men regarded him as moving on to their territory."
Evidence will be heard that following a chase Neal Barbour "brought down" Mr Mulvaney and when the other co-accused men caught up they set about punching and beating him as he lay on the ground.
Mr Barbour did not participate directly in the beating, but the third named defendant beat Mr Mulvaney with a piece of timber, and Mr Willoughby allegedly "danced" on his head.
The trial continues today.