A man accused of murder told a friend the night after the killing that he needed a safe place to stay as "his life was in danger".
The evidence was heard on the fifth day of the trial of Mr Joseph Delaney (53) of La Rochelle, Naas, Co Kildare, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Dwyer (23) with his son, Scott Delaney, on or about December 14th 1996. He has also pleaded not guilty to a second count that on December 14th 1996 at Foster Terrace, Ballybough, Dublin, he falsely imprisoned Mr Dwyer against his will.
A friend of Mr Delaney, Mr John Moran of Highfield Lawns, Swords, told the court that Mr Delaney phoned and subsequently met him on the evening following the murder as he said "he had a problem". In a pub in Swords, Mr Delaney told him his son was in trouble. His son had become involved with the "wrong people" and as a result, his son's life and his own were in danger. He said his house had been ransacked and he could not return there.
Mr Moran told Mr Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that Mr Delaney appeared to be "quite sick" when he met him. He took medication while they were talking and he appeared uneasy. After agreeing to allow him to spend the night, he and Mr Delaney returned to his Swords home where he left Mr Delaney in the sitting-room to make a number of calls.
When he finished, Mr Delaney said he had to go, as it was not safe for him to be there. Mr Moran took that to mean it was not safe for himself and his family.
Earlier, the court heard that Mr Delaney approached a garda on patrol around St Stephen's Green on December 14th, the day of the killing, asking about rumours that his son had been shot. Garda Noel Mulqueen of Pearse Street Garda station said he was stopped by a man identifying himself as Joe Delaney who said he heard his son had been shot, but he had seen nothing in the evening papers.
When the garda suggested that he phone home, he said he could not as he had left home and then he said "grand" and walked away. He appeared to be "very relaxed" and in no way agitated as though he had heard disturbing news.
The court also heard from Mr Patrick Griffin, whose wife operates a bed and breakfast on Rathbeale Road, Swords, that on the night following Mr Dwyer's murder, a man whom he identified as Mr Delaney had rented a room for the night.