A DUBLIN man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with shooting dead Wayne Doherty, a father of two, during a confrontation sparked by a fight at a christening.
Robert Egan (27), of Dromheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Doherty at Oakview Way, Hartstown, on July 5th, 2009.
However, he pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a shotgun at the same address on July 4th, 2009.
Mr Doherty (32) was shot outside his parents’ home after he tried to stop a dispute involving his friends and a group of men late on the night of July 4th, 2009.
Opening the prosecution case, Paul Coffey SC told the jury they would hear that Mr Egan told gardaí he brought a sawn-off shotgun to the scene in order to shoot Robert Hughes, a friend of the deceased, in the legs.
Mr Coffey said the accused man told gardaí he was holding the shotgun when it discharged, but he denied any intention of killing or causing harm to Mr Doherty. He told investigating officers the weapon discharged in circumstances where Mr Doherty hit him twice on the head with a hammer. Mr Coffey said Mr Egan admitted his finger was on the trigger, but told gardaí that the fatal shot occurred when Mr Doherty pulled the weapon toward himself and the gun accidentally discharged.
Mr Coffey told the jury the “real issue” for their consideration was the state of the mind of the accused at the time of the shooting. He said they would have to decide whether the shotgun was discharged deliberately or accidentally, and if it was discharged deliberately, whether the accused did so with the intention of causing serious injury or death.
The trial continues.