Jury views CCTV footage of fatal stabbing outside Dublin home
Eoin Reynolds
A jury has viewed CCTV footage of the moment a father of four fatally stabbed a man outside his home in what he later told gardaí was an act in defence of his family and his property.
The trial also heard on Wednesday that the accused man, Patrick Murphy, seemed "slightly nervous" when gardaí knocked on his door within hours of the death of 20-year-old Jordan Ronan and "muttered" under his breath, saying: "This is a load of bol****s."
Mr Murphy (37), of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, has accepted that he stabbed Mr Ronan, causing his death, but has pleaded not guilty to his murder.
Patricia McLaughlin SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions told the jury at the Central Criminal Court that Mr Ronan suffered a single fatal stab wound to the chest in the early hours of the morning on July 26th, 2024.
In her opening speech last week, Ms McLaughlin said Mr Murphy later told gardaí that he was acting in defence of his family and his property.
On Wednesday, Gda Dara Kelly told Ms McLaughlin that he compiled CCTV footage taken from three houses on Drumcairn Avenue and a Ring doorbell attached to Mr Murphy's house.
Gda Kelly identified the accused and deceased in the footage between 3.07am and shortly before 3.13am.
Gda Kelly agreed with Ronan Kennedy SC, for the defence, that prior to arriving at Mr Murphy's house, Mr Ronan could be seen walking up a driveway where he tried the door of a car before leaving.
On arrival at Mr Murphy's house, Mr Ronan entered the driveway, activating "convenience lights" in Mr Murphy's van, the witness said. Gda Kelly agreed that from 3.08am, the footage showed a light flickering and movement inside Mr Murphy's van before Mr Ronan moved to a BMW 2-Series belonging to Mr Murphy's partner.
At 3.12am, Gda Kelly said Mr Murphy appeared at the front door of his house and nine seconds later - the "altercation" with Mr Ronan already having happened - Mr Murphy could be seen standing back away from the car.
Under reexamination, Gda Kelly told Ms McLaughlin that the footage shows Mr Murphy running from his house to the BMW and pulling open the door.
Gda James Cullen told Ms McLaughlin that he arrived at the Drumcairn area at 2.58am that morning and found members of Dublin Fire Brigade attempting CPR on a male, who the garda recognised immediately as Jordan Ronan.
A fire brigade member handed Gda Cullen a Revolut Card registered to Patrick Murphy, which had been found on the deceased.
Gda Cullen said he was not aware of any association between Mr Murphy and Mr Ronan. Later that morning, Gda Cullen went to Mr Murphy's house on Drumcairn Parade and asked him to make a statement about the theft of his Revolut card.
While taking the statement, Gda Cullen heard Mr Murphy "mutter under his breath", saying: "This is a load of boll***s."
Gda Cullen said the accused's leg was shaking and he seemed "slightly nervous". Mr Murphy told Gda Cullen that he was going for a job interview that morning and said it was "ridiculous" that he was still up and that it felt like he had done something wrong.
Gda Cullen agreed with Mr Kennedy that Mr Murphy was polite and courteous at all times.
Inspector Barry Houlihan arrived at Mr Murphy's house before Gda Cullen. He noted a white Transit Van in the drive and found the slide door on the side was unlocked. When Insp Houlihan knocked on the front door, Mr Murphy's partner answered and said that Mr Murphy was in bed.
When Mr Murphy came outside, he confirmed he had left his Revolut card in the Transit van and agreed to allow gardaí to carry out a technical examination.
Det Inspector Houlihan noted that Mr Murphy appeared nervous and didn't seem like someone who had just woken up. His hair was neatly combed with a fresh parting, he said, and he was "fresh looking and fresh smelling".
Insp Houlihan agreed with Mr Kennedy that Mr Murphy had four children, including an infant in the house at the time.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury of five women and seven men.
