Clonmel murder trial hears witness evidence

The murder trial of Clonmel man has heard from a witness who said the accused informed him he'd committed the crime hours after the killing.

John Hannigan of River House, New Quay denies murdering Anthony Fallon on January 18th 2012 and a second charge of assault causing harm to the 46 year old on the same date.

Giving evidence on day one of the trial, 39 year old William O'Riordan told the Central Criminal Court the was walking through the town when he head there had been an incident on the quay side.

He was concerned his brother Joseph- who has since been sentenced for assaulting Anthony Fallon was there and later when he met Joseph and the accused he asked them were they involved.  His brother denied it but William O Riordan said Mr Hannigan stated that he had done it.

Mr O'Riordan said he later learned his brother had assaulted the deceased but never heard he had battered him over the head with a kettle.

The court also heard from shopkeeper Michael Mc Dermot who severed alcohol  to a badly beaten Anthony Fallon at around 6 am on the day in question , because the deceased told him that two men with him would kill them both if he didn't.

Mr McDermott said he saw Mr Hannigan and Joseph O'Riordan outside- knew both men- and for his own protection sold the drink to Anthony Fallon and locked up the shop as soon as he left.

It's the states case the accused and Mr O'Riordan has assaulted Anthony Fallon before they went to the shop and that Mr Hannigan viciously assaulted him in the Priory car park before helping him to River House around the corner where he collapsed and died