One of seven people accused of murdering Dale Creighton in Dublin has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Jason Beresford of Ard a Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare, initially denied the charge but changed his plea this morning.
Mr Creighton died in hospital following an alleged attack on a footbridge in Tallaght in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2014.
Mr Beresford and six others are on trial for his murder. The accused all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder last week.
But this morning, the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to violent disorder, so the jury will only have to consider the murder charge against him.
Today’s first witness, Edward McCabe, lives near the footbridge and said he saw three men at the bottom of the steps on the night in question.
He said one man gave another a wallop and he fell against a barrier. He said he watched as the man staggered across the road and collapsed.
Karl O'Leary was making his way home with his girlfriend after ringing in the New Year and he told the court a young man ran past him and he heard somebody scream from behind, "grab him - he robbed her phone".
He said he recognised two of the accused running after him. The trial continues.
