Man accused of murder told witness he was ‘stabbed by two foreign guys’
Waterford Courthouse.
The trial of a man accused of murdering John ‘King’ O’Connor continued at Waterford Central Criminal Court today.
Wayne Roche, formerly of Dominic’s Place, Waterford, is accused of murdering Mr O’Connor at his home at 17 Cluain Fada, New Ross, Co. Wexford, on a date between December 30-31, 2024. He is pleading not guilty.
The 35-year-old is represented by John Byrne SC. Dean Kelly SC is acting as State Prosecutor. Judge Patrick McGrath is presiding over the trial.
On Wednesday, April 29, the jury of eight women and four men heard from numerous witnesses who observed the accused around New Ross during the dates in question.
The jury heard from a Garda who was tipped off about Roche acting suspiciously in the Cluain Fada area but did not investigate further.
The first witness of the day was Darren Delaney, a man who lived a few doors away from Mr O’Connor. He was at his home on the night of Monday, December 30, when he heard a knock on the patio door shortly before 11pm. He opened the curtain to see Wayne Roche, a man who he "knew of", pressed up against the window.
Mr Delaney described the scene: “[Roche] asked me how long I was living there and he said ‘You won’t be living here much longer.’ I took it as a small bit of aggression towards me. I never opened the door, I only opened the curtains.”
Roche then left and began walking in the direction of 17 Cluain Fada, as seen by the witness. Mr Delaney called the Gardaí about the incident. Garda Bridget Comerford was on-duty in New Ross at the time and was alerted to the call via the Waterford radio. On doorbell footage, Garda Comerford can be seen driving the patrol car to Mr Delaney’s home only moments after Roche can be seen leaving the area. Garda Comerford took a statement from Mr Delaney about his interaction with Roche and pointed out that he had gone off in "the direction of 17 Cluain Fada".
Mr Byrne asked her if she saw Wayne Roche in the area. She said: “I don’t recall seeing him.”
Mr Byrne asked her if she went to 17 Cluain Fada to investigate further.
She responded: “I can’t recall. Mr Delaney wanted to note the interaction.”
A couple living in the neighbourhood also appeared to give testimony. Separately, they both described seeing a man understood to be Wayne Roche appearing at their door and repeatedly asking for ‘Skitzer.’ Doorbell screenshots were obtained that showed Roche at their door with his hood up. Roche eventually staggered away from the door, with the couple noting that he was "obviously drunk".
Roche spent much of the morning of Tuesday, December 31, 2024, looking for a lift to Waterford.
A young man told the court that he saw a "scruffy" Roche on the morning of Tuesday, December 31, in Cluain Fada shortly before 11am. The man was visiting his grandfather and was leaving when a limping Roche approached him asking for a lift to Waterford.
The man said: “He had a scar on his face. He said he was after being attacked and asked if we’d help him. He said he wanted to go to hospital in Waterford.”
The man tried to call a local taxi service for Roche but they were unavailable.
Wayne Roche approached multiple people asking for a lift to Waterford. He was able to get a lift off a man from Irishtown (in New Ross) to the New Ross bus station. Roche offered the motorist "100 pound" to take him straight to Waterford but was refused.
The motorist said on the stand: “He said he got stabbed by two foreign guys from an estate. He was pleading, he offered me 100 pound to bring him to hospital in Waterford. I said I wasn’t bringing him and I dropped him at the bus station on the Quay.
“There was blood on his face. He said he had a stab wound but I never saw anything.”
Staff members at local shops recalled seeing Roche in an "agitated" state and asking for a taxi to go to "hospital". One shop worker told him to go to the local Garda station for help but he said he "didn’t want to do that".
One woman told the court that she heard Roche saying that he "needed to get out of town".
Mr Byrne challenged her on this comment, noting that it was not in her official statement to Gardaí. She replied: “I said he kept asking for a taxi and kept saying that he’d been assaulted in a house.”
“I’m going to suggest to you that he never said that,” stated Mr Byrne.
“He did say that,” she answered.
The jury heard evidence from members of John O’Connor’s family, including the mother of his children. They were alerted to his death after being contacted by the emergency services, and rushed to 17 Cluain Fada. Roche held his head in his heads as they spoke.
The trial continues on Thursday, April 30.
