SIXTH WITNESS DENIES STATEMENT TO GARDAI

A sixth witness in the Josie Dwyer manslaughter trial at Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court has contradicted statements he made to gardai about the killing.

Stephen Whelan (16) denied telling gardai that he saw about 30 people chase
Mr Dwyer or that he saw men beat him with sticks, batons and iron bars. He
said gardai must have invented the contents of the statement.

He agreed he signed every page of his statement but said he was only 13 at
the time and was unsure of what was involved.He was afraid to get nearer to
go near Mr Dwyer during the attack in case he himself was attacked by the
vigilantes.

Four men, Mr Hugh Byrne (33), of Dolphin House; Mr Mark Cooke (25), of
Dolphin House; Mr John Fitzpatrick (35), of Fatima Mansions; and Mr William
Kenny (55), of St Anthony's Road, all Rialto, deny the manslaughter of Mr
Dwyer in Basin Lane, Dublin, on May 14th, 1996. They also deny assault on Mr
Alan Byrne.

The trial continues before Judge Dominic Lynch.