52-year-old man found guilty of murdering friend in Kerry

A 52-year-old man who stabbed his friend and neighbour after being kicked out of his apartment in Co Kerry two-and-a-half years ago has been found guilty of murder.

Patrick Murphy, of no fixed abode, admitted to killing Joseph Brosnan at Abbey Court in Tralee on 22 May 2022, but had pleaded not guilty to murder.

He claimed that he had been acting under provocation.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court deliberated for two hours and two minutes before returning the unanimous verdict.

Mr Brosnan lived in an apartment at Abbey Court in Tralee.

He previously worked in a direct provision centre on the outskirts of the town and it was there that he met and befriended a Polish man, Kamil Lisowski.

Mr Brosnan helped Mr Lisowski settle in and move apartment, and they became good friends.

On 22 May 2022, Mr Lisowski finished work at about 7.45am and called on his friend, Mr Brosnan.

They watched television together and had a few drinks.

At around 3pm that afternoon, Murphy called over, more drink was taken which led to some insult passing between Mr Lisowski and Murphy.

Mr Lisowski slapped him in the face.

Things calmed down and people shook hands, but the matter "welled up again" and Murphy was asked to leave.

At around 6.45pm that evening, Murphy returned and apologised, but was "pushed out vigorously" out of the apartment and fell to the ground outside.

A short time later, Mr Brosnan opened the door to Murphy again and told him to go, but Murphy was armed with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Brosnan three times, fatally injuring him.

The court was told he "was well aware that he was seriously injured and announced to Mr Lisowski: 'I'm dying'".

An ambulance and gardaí were called, but he died in his apartment lying on his sofa.

Murphy originally suggested to gardaí that the victim had possibly suffered a seizure before eventually admitting that he had brought a knife to the scene and that he had stabbed him.

Murphy said that the group had been drinking brandy, vodka and wine while he had also been taking tablets and sharing them around.

"I know it was me. I had the knife. I know I was the one with the knife," Murphy told gardaí, going on to say that Mr Brosnan was a friend of his all his life.

"Look, I had the knife, I am responsible. I was in fear, so I picked up the knife. I don’t remember stabbing Joe, but I must have. I remember jabbing back with the knife," he said, going on to say that he would not have harmed Mr Brosnan on purpose.

The jury of eight men and four women returned their verdict of guilty of murder.

Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Murphy in custody for victim impact statements and sentencing on 16 December, but the he faces the mandatory term of life in prison.