Matt died ‘after he was punched in face & kicked in the head’

PAIR DENY KILLING ‘ACCOMPLISHED SWIMMER’

A MAN died after he was allegedly punched in the face and kicked in the head near his home three days after Christmas, a murder trial heard yesterday.

Two men have gone on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork city charged with the murder of Matt O’Neill (29) from Carrigaline.

Ricardo Hoey (21), of Ardcarrig in Carrigaline and Jordan Deasy (19), from Ravensdale Heron’s Wood in the town, both deny committing murder on December 28, 2022 at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline.

Prosecuting barrister Jane Hyland, SC, gave an outline of the case to the jury of six men and six women.

She warned jurors that what she was saying was not in itself evidence.

She also told them that a case cannot be deemed murder “without an intention to kill or an intention to cause serious harm”.

Ms Hyland said the deceased lived at Glenwood Close with his parents Eileen and Pat.

She said he loved the outdoors and sports and was an “accomplished swimmer”.

Addict

However, she stated that during his teenage years he developed an addiction.

She said that although he had held down various jobs over the years his addiction had “taken over” his life for a year before his death.

Ms Hyland told the court that on December 28, 2022 Mr O’Neill left his home on foot and went across the road to the garage where he purchased wine.

He then started to make his way back home to Glenwood Close.

Ms Hyland said a male witness will testify that at 5.35pm he saw an Opel Astra stopped in the middle of the road with both front doors open, two men standing outside the car and a third man lying on the ground.

She added: “[The witness] approached the scene. The two males standing there left the scene after a brief exchange with [the witness]. The man on the ground was bleeding and unconscious.”

A passing medical consultant went to the aid of Mr O’Neill and an ambulance subsequently arrived and transferred him to hospital.

The barrister said Mr O’Neill was placed on life support, adding: “He was also operated on without success and died without regaining consciousness on January 8, 2023.”

She then gave an outline of what allegedly occurred in Glenwood that night.

She said: “Ricardo Hoey pushed Mr O’Neill who fell to the ground. When Mr O’Neill was on the ground Mr Deasy punched him a number of times. Mr Hoey kicked Mr O’Neill in the head.”

Ms Hyland said that gardai harvested CCTV from the area in the wake of the death of Mr O’Neill. However, it was of “limited value” as it was “indistinct”.

She indicated that jurors would be shown CCTV in relation to the alleged movements of Mr O’Neill and both of the accused men.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford told jurors the case could last up to three weeks. Up to 100 witnesses could be called.

The trial continues.