Two men have gone on trial accused of murdering a 48-year-old father of six in Clara, Co Offaly.

The body of Christy Daly was found in a drain near his burnt out caravan in January 2014 and he had been shot a number of times.

On January 7th 2014, Mr Daly's body was found in a drain near his caravan on Bog Lane, just outside Clara.

His home and two cars had been burnt out.

A post mortem revealed he had been beaten and shot a number of times.

Eight spent 9mm bullets were found at the scene, and two bullets of a similar make were found in a burnt out car at a nearby quarry.

Ross Allen of Kilmonaghan Lodge, Clara in Co Offaly and Matthew Gralton of Mount Prospect in Roscommon went on trial today for his murder.

It is the State's case that a bag containing €30,000 worth of drugs was left on Bog Lane by Mr Allen - and that he assumed Mr Daly had taken them when he could not find them on December 29th.

He allegedly reported this to the owner of the drugs, a man described today as 'Mr X'.

The prosecution believe Mr Allen and Mr Gralton played a role in two assassins being brought in from Dublin.

Both men deny the charge.