The Central Criminal Court has been hearing details of the statement which Wayne O'Donoghue made to gardaí in which he admitted killing his 11-year-old neighbour and friend, Robert Holohan.
The court was told that detectives were called to Mr O'Donoghue's home on the day after Robert Holohan was buried.
After making a statement, Wayne O'Donoghue told them he was deeply sorry; he never intended to harm Robert and if he could switch roles, he would.
The 21-year-old from Ballyedmond in Midleton, Co Cork, denies murdering Robert Holohan but admits manslaughter.
Robert's body was discovered at Inch Strand near Midleton on 12 January. He had been missing since 4 January.
The jury in the trial has been told that Robert died from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation.
Today, it heard of Mr O'Donoghue's admission that he killed the boy who looked up to him like an older brother.
It was also told of the detailed statement he gave gardaí about how Robert Holohan met his death and how his body was dumped at the beach.
Detective Sergeant Peter Kenny told the court, which is sitting in Cork, how he and Detective Garda Michael O'Sullivan received a call from Mr O'Donoghue's father, Ray, asking them to come to his house.
Ray O'Donoghue told them Wayne had admitted killing Robert. He led the detectives into the living room of his home where they found the accused on a couch. He was in a distressed state.
Over the following seven hours, Wayne O'Donoghue described to the two detectives how a row developed between him and Robert after he had refused to drive the youngster to McDonald's for a chocolate milkshake. He said Robert threw pebbles at his car.
Wayne O'Donoghue was holding his friend with his left hand by the throat and was telling him to stop throwing stones. He could not say how tight or for how long he held him, but when he released his grip, Robert fell to the ground.
He realised soon afterwards that Robert was dead. He put his body in the boot of his car and after driving around for a while in what he described as a panicked state, he dumped the body near Inch Strand.
Earlier the court heard from Andrew O'Callaghan, who met the defendant on the third day of the search for Robert Holohan.
Wayne O'Donoghue told Mr O'Callaghan about the row which he had with Robert Holohan.
He said he asked Wayne O'Donoghue if he had killed the boy. Mr O'Donoghue made no reply and did not open his mouth once after that, Mr O'Callaghan added.
The trial continues tomorrow.
