The prosecution claims he was subjected to a “vicious, prolonged and sustained attack” after being chased over a stolen mobile phone.
Sean Gillane, who’s acting for the DPP, told the jurors the case will deal with events that took place at various locations in Tallaght over the course of a few hours leading up to 4am on New Year’s Day 2014.
He said a number of the accused rang in the New Year in a local nightclub and that shortly before 4am, a girl could be heard screaming that her phone had been robbed in a nearby green area.
He said Dale Creighton was chased to a pedestrian footbridge that hangs over the Tallaght bypass.
Mr. Gillane said it will be alleged that all seven eventually arrived at the scene and he described a vicious attack whereby Mr. Creighton received a number of kicks and stamps to the head and body.
At one point, he said he was picked up off the floor, beaten, dragged back up the bridge and thrown down the steps.
He died from his injuries in hospital the following day.
The trial is expected to take up to six weeks.
