Drug addict Josie Dwyer, who died following an assault in Dublin in 1996, was described today as a major drug pusher by one of the three men accused of his manslaughter. Hugh Byrne, from Dolphin House Rialto, told a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he had no hand, act or part in the attack on Josie Dwyer and was not even present. This morning charges of manslaughter and assault against a fourth accused, William Kenny of St Anthony's Road Rialto were withdrawn from the jury.
Forty-two-year-old Josie Dwyer was a drug addict, HIV positive and in very poor health. He was kicked and beaten in Basin Lane in the Dublin South Inner City following an anti-drug meeting in nearby Dolphin's Barn. Hugh Byrne is one of three men accused of his manslaughter, who are on trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A member of the Concerned Parents Against Drugs, he lives in the Dolphin House flat complex and on the night of Mr Dwyer's death he attended an anti drugs meeting of about fifty people in the nearly community centre. He was one of three at the top table.
When that meeting broke up, Mr Byrne claims he was back at home with his partner and a friend within minutes. He said he was not present when Josie Dwyer was killed and had no hand, act of part in the matter. He claimed witnesses who gave evidence that he was involved were telling blatant lies and that the Gardaí had told him when he was first arrested that they were going to stitch him up. He also denied ever telling Gardaí that he was at Basin Lane and gave Josie Dwyer a few digs.
Mr Byrne said he knew Josie Dwyer and Alan Byrne who was assaulted during the attack. He said he bore Mr Dwyer no malice. He described him as one of the first people pushing heroin in Dublin. He was a major pusher, he said not a small timer. He claimed that Alan Byrne was dealing drugs to the kids in the flats complex. He described the drug problem in Dolphin House as very bad, saying the area was like "an open air chemist's" and no place to bring children up. The trial continues tomorrow.
