A Limerick barman drowned in his own blood after being repeatedly kicked in the face and head during an attempt to rob him, the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Mr Noel Pyper (48), originally from Macroom, was set upon as he left Noel's Bar in Limerick city centre shortly after midnight on August 12th, 1997, prosecuting counsel told the jury. His body was found concealed behind refuse bins in a laneway off Newenham Street the following morning.
Mr Raymond Casey (37), of Ashe Avenue, John Carew Park, and Mr Anthony Casey (20), with an address at Mount Pleasant Avenue, both in Limerick, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Pyper.
Opening the prosecution case, Mr Tom O'Connell SC said the accused "acted together" and that the motive for the killing was robbery. When he left the pub with the night's takings, Mr Pyper had drunk a "fair amount" of alcohol.
He went to a fast-food takeaway on O'Connell Street. The prosecution claims a security video shows Raymond Casey standing slightly behind him in the queue. "The State's case is that at that stage Raymond Casey was stalking Noel Pyper," Mr O'Connell said.
The prosecution claims Anthony Casey was in the city drinking with friends. He later met Raymond Casey and the two "embarked upon a plan to commit this particular crime".
Mr Pyper, who was suffering from cancer, died from inhaling his own blood after multiple facial fractures to his nose, cheekbones and jaw. His liver was also torn, Mr O'Connell said. The post-mortem revealed footmarks on his face.
Mr O'Connell said forensic tests would show that a bloodied palm print on the wall of a laneway belonged to Raymond Casey. He said Raymond Casey made verbal admissions in Henry Street Garda station in August 1997. The trial resumes today.