A man on trial accused of the unlawful killing of another man outside a pub last year in Longford told gardai he "never meant for it to happen".
32-year-old Gerard Melia of Derrygowna, Lanesboro, Co Longford has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 50-year-old Noel McGann in the car park of Leavey's Pub, Foigha, on August 1, 2019.
The panel beater was arrested hours after the fatal assaultion the car park and told Gardai that he hit Mr McGann after the dead man "lunged" at him in the car park, claiming the victim had been "sneering and laughing" at him inside the pub.
During an interview at Longford Garda Station the following day, Mr Melia told gardai of how he had attempted to talk to Mr McGann moments before the incident and indicated the differences between the pair was over "a woman" the accused had been in a relationship with more than four years ago.
The court also heard Mr Melia had consumed up to six pints before the tragedy unfolded shortly after 5pm.
In a statement of interview read out to the court, Mr Melia was asked by gardai why he left drove away from the scene of the incident seconds later and he told gardai that he thought Mr Mcgann was going to be alright and the incident
"It happened so quick, I thought he was going to be alright," he told gardai.
Anotehr witness said that he he found Mr Melia in the bedroom of his mother's house with "tears coming out of his eyes" before he handed himself into Gardai.
Acting state pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan also told the trial Mr McGann died as a result of a traumatic head injury after falling to the ground and hitting his head.
Mr McGann died three days later in hospital as a result of his injuries.
The trial continues on Tuesday at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in front of Judge Keenan Johnston.
