Threatening texts sent before killing

A MAN accused of killing another man at a secluded city park had earlier texted him saying he was “going to cut you into little pieces”, a manslaughter trial yesterday heard.

Damien Organ (25) and his brother Liam (28), William St, Waterford city, were set upon with hurleys in an unlit area of the People’s Park in the city on March 21st, 2010.

Noel Whelan, prosecuting, told the jury that Liam Organ suffered two fractured vertebrae in the attack, while Damien Organ suffered a “broken neck and bleeding to his brain”. Damien never regained consciousness and remained on life-support at Waterford Regional Hospital until his death there on April 1st.

The trial over the unlawful killing of Mr Organ began at the Circuit Court in the city yesterday. Kieron Deegan (20) and Martin O’Brien (21), who formerly lived together at The Quay in the city, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Damien Organ and to assaulting both brothers.

Det Sgt John Sheehy confirmed deleted texts had been retrieved from numerous phones during the investigation.

Mr Whelan said the defendants were at their flat with Emily Hallahan and Kate Clancy when Ms Clancy began sending text messages to Liam Organ, looking for drugs. Liam Organ told her she would have to pay cash, while a series of texts between them and between him and Mr O’Brien became increasingly aggressive. Mr Organ owed Ms Clancy, an ex-girlfriend, €350 he had borrowed to pay a court fine.

Mr O’Brien sent Liam Organ a text saying: “You made a really big mistake – I’m going to cut you into little pieces – I’m going to chop you up.” Mr Organ also sent Kate Clancy a message saying: “Tell that fat fool I’m going to kill him stone dead,” the court heard.

Mr Organ invited Mr O’Brien to meet him in the park. He told Mr O’Brien that he would “be in a bad way” and that Ms Clancy would “get a slap too”.

In a text to Liam Organ at 3.50am on March 22nd, hours after the attack, Mr O’Brien asked: “How’s the head haha? Who’s the hard man now? Have Kate’s money next week or there will be more where that came from. Sorry about your brother; I didn’t mean for him to get hurt. It’s over now.”

In evidence Mr Organ alleged Ms Clancy tried to hand him a hurley shortly before his brother was attacked. Mr Organ told Michael Durack, defending Mr O’Brien, that he and his brother brought “sticks” with them to the park, but that his brother did not have the baseball bat shown in evidence. The trial continues.