Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘STREET BATTLE’ FOOTAGE IS SHOWN
Murder trial shown CCTV of ‘attack’
CCTV footage of a “full-scale street battle” which resulted in the death of an 18-year-old was played to a jury yesterday.
The film, which captured the moment John Paul Mcdonagh sustained a fatal leg wound, was shown at Dungannon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast.
Joseph Joyce has been charged with murdering Mr Mcdonagh, who bled to death after he was struck with a scythe-type weapon.
The incident occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2020 in the Coolcullen Meadow area of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
Joyce, 32, from Abercorn Road, Derry, can be seen striking the deceased with the weapon.
But he later claimed he was acting in self-defence and was protecting himself and his family in the face of an attack by the Mcdonaghs.
Prosecuting barrister Barra Mcgrory QC said the Joyce family lived at Coolcullen Meadow with the Mcdonaghs at nearby Drumawill Gardens.
Joyce is accused of walking from his home to the back of the Mcdonagh’s property where a row broke out.
Mr Mcgrory said it was the Crown’s case this row “developed very quickly into a full-scale battle on the street in Coolcullen Meadow”.
Mr Mcdonagh, his brother Gerard and a youth who can’t be named are captured walking up Coolcullen Meadow at 8pm. It’s the Crown’s case that all three males are armed with weapons including a kitchen knife, a hoe and a glass bottle. Joyce is seen standing outside his house armed with what the Crown said was a scythe-type weapon and ammonia. A street fight then erupts between Joyce and the other three males. Mr Mcgrory said “tragically during the course of this battle, which rages in the street for a short period of time”. Mr Mcdonagh sustained a fatal wound caused by Joyce “using his weapon”.
The prosecutor said that in the aftermath of the fatal incident, Joyce was arrested and charged with murder.
Joyce was subsequently charged with five offences arising from the incident.
He denied murdering Mr Mcdonagh, wounding his brother with intent, possessing two separate weapons in a public place, and fighting and making an affray.
Three others have been charged with offences linked to the same incident. At hearing.