A man who is on trial for allegedly stabbing his two older brothers told gardaí he had been "tortured" all of his life by the pair, whilst also claiming that his elderly parents "lived in fear" of having their home burned down by them.
Electrical engineer William Brennan of Longbridge, Ballyhalwick, Dunmanway, Co Cork denies causing serious harm to his older brothers John and Jerry Brennan Jnr at a property in Ballyhalwick, Dunmanway, Co Cork on 17 August 2024.
He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of producing a knife on the same occasion.
A trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court has heard that William Brennan was interviewed by gardaí the day after the alleged stabbing incident.
William claimed in garda interviews that he only acted to defend himself after he was attacked by his brothers when he went to their shared yard in Ballyhalwick on the evening of 17 August 2024.
He said that upon his arrival at the property Jerry Jnr called him names. He stated that a man who was wearing a balaclava came at him from behind and that he received a blow to the head.
William said that Jerry Jnr then punched him in the head repeatedly. He claimed that his two older brothers had a history of keeping weapons such as cross bows at the property.
He told gardaí he found a knife at the property in Ballyhalwick several days earlier. He indicated that he kept it as he feared that his brothers would use it on him.
He said that he planned to dispose of the knife. However, he claimed that he had travelled overseas and had accidentally left the knife in a trouser pocket back home in Cork.
'I was being attacked by the person in the balaclava'
William said that "by fluke" he wore the pants containing the knife on the day of the alleged stabbing. He said that he pulled out the knife from his pocket when he was being attacked in a desperate bid to defend himself.
"I was being attacked by the person in the balaclava. I waved it [the knife] left and right twice and then everything stopped."
He said the person in the balaclava removed it from his head. It was only then that he realised that it was his brother John.
William said he had "no doubt" that he would have been killed by his brothers if he had not produced the knife.
He said his parents had felt the need to purchase an external postbox as they were of the belief that Jerry Jnr and John would set their home on fire.
William described his family situation as complicated. He said that he had suffered years of "turmoil" at the hands of his brothers.
William said that the pair had been asked to leave the family home in 2019 arising out of their violent and aggressive behaviour. He said he had been targeted by his brother Jerry from an early age.
"Jerry Jnr was always breaking his own arm from fighting [with people]. I was Jerry’s stress release point as a child. I was just a punch bag.
"I have a life not worth living. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. I might lose my job and career [in the event of a conviction].
"That’s [his job] what gets me away from them."
The 32-year-old said his two older siblings were nothing but trouble to his parents.
"Jerry [Jnr] brought fake money in to the house. Jerry [Jnr] lost his job in June 2019 and was verbally abusive [to them] trying to control their lives."
There was no defence evidence in the case. The jury of eight men and four women have heard closing speeches from the defence and the prosecution.
In her closing charge to the jury Judge Helen Boyle said they should use their "common sense" when considering the evidence in the case. A unanimous verdict is required. The jury commenced their deliberations at 2.15pm.
John and Jerry Jnr are marine engineers. All three brothers have spent time overseas in the course of their work.
