PAIR CHARGED WITH KILLING ILL 'DRUGGIE' Court hears of attack with snooker cue and golf club in front of victim's family.

Byline: SELINA COLGAN

AN alleged drug user was beaten to death with a golf club and snooker cue in front of children, a court heard yesterday.

David Rooney, 35, from Crumlin, South Dublin, died on July 12 last year after being beaten and stabbed on Clonmacnoise Road.

Two men appeared in the Central Criminal Court yesterday accused of his murder.

Karl Fay, 18, from Leighlin Road and 20-year-old Jason Curry, from Lismore Road, both in Crumlin, deny the charge.

A jury in the Central Criminal Court heard claims yesterday Mr Rooney was attacked by Fay and Curry at about 8.30pm on July 2, 2008.

He died of his injuries in hospital 10 days later. Three children who allegedly witnessed the assault will give evidence by video link today.

The Jury also heard that evidence from the state pathologist would indicate that the attack involved a knife as Mr Rooney had recived stab wounds to the head and neck.

Mr Rooney had lived at Lismore Road with his parents and brother all his life and was a man in ill health who was in reciept of disability allowance.

He was seen on the night in question hanging around the Gate Bar on Crumlin Road at around 6.45pm.

Mr Rooney was later seen outside Ace bookmakers in the Crumlin area in the company of Deborah Curry, the aunt of one of the accused and a number of other people.

He was next seen being assaulted by Curry with a snooker cue while Fay hit him with a golf club about the face.

When Mr Rooney fell Curry aimed kicks at him while he lay on the ground. Mr Rooney died of braindamage as a result of a fracture to the right side of his skull due to significant blunt force injury to the head.

Mr Rooney's uncle Michael Fraiser told the court he last saw his nephew outside the Gate Bar at about 6.45pm shortly before the attack.

He said his nephew appeared to be "on something".

Mr Fraiser added: "I'm not saying he was on drugs or was not on drugs, he had a few drinks taken." Robert Lace, who was in Ace Bookmakers on the night in question, told the court he had spoken to Mr Rooney outside the bookmakers at 8.30pm and he appeared to be disorientated.

Mr Lace said: "He asked me questions but they made no sense to me at all, he was disorientated, he was on drugs."

The trial continues before Mr Justice George Birmingham and a jury of five men and seven women.

CAPTION(S):

THE ACCUSED JASON CURRY, 20 THE ACCUSED KARL FAY, 18