RETRIAL OF MAN WHO KICKED PARTNER TO DEATH OPENS

The retrial of a Dublin man who kicked his girlfriend to death after a row
over a pounds 5 cannabis deal opened yesterday.

Mr Sean Ryan SC, for the prosecution, told Mr Justice Carney and the jury
at the Central Criminal Court that Mr Laurence Callaghan "savagely
attacked" Ms Janet Mooney after they had been drinking and smoking cannabis.

Mr Callaghan (33), from St Mary's Road, Crumlin, in Dublin, has pleaded not
guilty to the murder, but guilty to the manslaughter of Ms Mooney (29),
between September 17th and 19th, 1996 at the flat they shared at Harrington
Street in Dublin.

Opening the prosecution case, Mr Ryan told the jury they would have to
decide whether Mr Callaghan was guilty of murder or manslaughter.

He said the evidence would show that Mr Callaghan kicked Ms Mooney to
death. He described it as "a brutal attack".

Mr Ryan said that on the Thursday after the killing, Mr Callaghan went to
an acquaintance in Rathmines and confessed to him that he had killed Ms
Mooney.

The gardai were called, and when they went to the flat they found Ms
Mooney's body. Mr Callaghan later told gardai that he and Ms Mooney had
been drinking during the day and had bought some hash. An argument broke
out between them over the hash.

Mr Callaghan said he "kept kicking" Ms Mooney and "just couldn't stop". "I
had lost it completely." He told gardai that he then went out and bought
some more hash and went back to the flat. The next morning he had sex with
her and it was only after that, he knew she was dead. He moved her body to
the bedroom and knew she was dead because rigor mortis had set in and she
was "going stiff."

Mr Callaghan made a written statement to gardai in which he said that on
the night of the killing, he and Ms Mooney had bought twelve cans of cider
and she had also bought pounds 10 worth of hash.

They had several drinks in pubs in South Great George's St and Camden St
before going back to the flat. A row broke out and when Ms Mooney was
getting undressed he questioned her about where the rest of the hash was.
She told him she didn't know and he started to kick her.

"Words cannot describe how sorry I am for what I have done. Janet was my
best friend. I only hope God will forgive me and all who knew Janet," the
statement ended.

The trial continues today.