The trial continues shortly of Matthew Gralton, Mount Prospect, Roscommon who, along with Ross Allen of Carrickmines and Clara, stands accused of murder for their alleged part in the killing of 47-year-old Christy Daly at Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly on a date between December 29, 2013 and January 7, 2014.
In his opening statement Patrick Marrinan SC told the jury of six men and six women that the prosecution’s case is that both men admitted to being involved in the killing during interviews with Gardaí in February 2014. He said that neither admitted to being the actual gunman, but that “Ross Allen and Matthew Gralton had a role to play” in the killing. He said the prosecution would show that Mr Allen hid drugs worth €30,000 on the laneway where Mr Daly lived, but when he returned to pick them up on December 29, 2013 they were missing. He said this was reported to a Mr X, who owned the drugs, who sent for two members of a criminal gang in Dublin to kill Mr Daly.