A witness at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder described the restaurant where a stabbed man lay dying as "full of blood", the Central Criminal Court heard.

Brian Rattigan (28), of Cooley Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, has denied the murder of Declan Gavin (21), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin on August 25, 2001.

It is the prosecution's case that Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that pulled up outside Abrakebabra fast food outlet at the Crumlin shopping centre before he "made for Declan Gavin" with a knife.

Cheryl Marlow told the court she was in Abrakebabra with her friend Karen Douglas on the night of the alleged murder.

Drugs

She said her memory of that night was not very good as she had been on drugs at the time but recalled that Declan Gavin was in the restaurant, having been stabbed.

She said: "It was long ago and it was a drug-fuelled night but I remember Deco Gavin was stabbed."

Ms Marlow said she was one of a number of people who attended to Mr Gavin, in the kitchen area, after the fatal stabbing occurred.

She said: "I remember people pulling him into the back and we were putting paper towels on the hole where he got stabbed."

"My clothes were full of blood because the whole shop was full of blood from Deco."

Ms Douglas told the court she heard screaming and saw Mr Gavin walking towards her with his hand on his chest.

She said: "He was pale and all over the place and he was in shock."

Lorraine O'Driscoll told the court she was out with friends on the night of the alleged murder and went to Abrakebabra at approximately 3am.

She told the court she knew Mr Gavin well, as they had been neighbours, and spoke to him in the food outlet that night.

Screeching

She said: "He was grand, in great form, we talked for about 10 to 15 minutes. He offered to pay for my food."

Ms O'Driscoll told the court when she left the restaurant she heard "screeching" and saw a car stop on the road outside.

She said: "I heard a screech and saw a balaclava and then I ran across the road to look for a taxi."

The witness told the court that her friend's boyfriend picked her up.

When they drove past Abrakebabra, she saw a security guard at the door of the restaurant and "people running everywhere".

The trial continues before Mr Justice George Bermingham and a jury of eight men and four women.

hnews@herald.ie

- Selina Colgan