Two men accused of murder seen throwing golf clubs over a wall
Olivia Kelleher
The trial of three young people charged with the murder of a postman who suffered catastrophic injuries to his face and head has heard that two of the accused were seen throwing golf clubs over a wall on the night of the alleged offence.
Alex Deady (21) of Glenview, Convent Road, Doneraile in Co Cork and two juveniles, aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
All three are charged with the murder of father of five Barry Daly (44) at Rockview Terrace in Doneraile, on October 12th, 2025.
On Wednesday, the trial heard evidence from Seamus Hunter who said he went to Eily’s Bar in Doneraile on October 11th, 2025 for post-match celebrations after the local hurling team won a Junior B final.
Hunter said that when the bar emptied at closing time, there was “a lot of fighting on the street.” He tried to calm things down amongst the young people.
He said that a short time later, he spotted that Alex Deady and another young man had a golf club each. He recalled roaring at them and indicated that they shouted back at him.
Hunter said that he wanted to defuse the tension. When he walked towards Mr Deady and the 17-year-old accused, he raised his hands in the air to signify that he didn’t want a fight.
“I said “Ye can’t be going around with golf clubs. I got a slap on the nose and a headbutt from the (17-year-old named teenager). My nose started bleeding.”
Mr Hunter said that the two young men went up the street in the direction of the home of Barry Daly. He said that he went home to clean his nose. He got a baseball bat and left the property.
He crossed the road from his house in Doneraile and again spotted the same two young men carrying golf clubs. The jury heard that there was a “third young fella” with the young men at this point.
Hunter said that the three accused did not see him. He recalled hearing one of the accused, who is a juvenile and can’t be named for legal reasons, saying, “We have to get rid of these.”
“(Named person) threw one (golf club) over the wall, and Alex Deady threw another. I stopped looking at them. I didn’t know what to do.”
Ray Boland, SC, for the 16-year-old accused, put it to Mr Hunter that he hadn’t seen his client “say or do anything.” He agreed that this was the case.
Under cross-examination by Alice Fawsitt, SC, for the 17-year-old accused, Hunter said that he brought a baseball bat with him from the house because he had a feeling that the young men planned to go to the home of Barry Daly with their golf clubs.
“It came to me what was going to happen or had happened. If I encountered lads with golf clubs, I would need a weapon myself. I intended to go to Barry’s house to help (Barry). I suppose in my head, I thought something was going on. “
Meanwhile, Oliver (Ollie) Sheehan, the owner of Eily’s bar, said that they stopped serving at 12.30 am on October 12th, 2025. He went out to the street when he heard shouting.
“There was a lot of tussling and roaring and shouting. I saw Alex (Deady) with a golf club at the corner of Convent Road and Main Street.
Sheehan said that he asked Alex to give him the golf club.
Sheehan then returned to his pub with the golf club, which he locked in to the premises. He noted that Alex Deady was “upset” on the night of the alleged offence.
The trial also heard evidence from Stephen Ryan who had also socialised in Doneraile on the night of 11/12th October 2025.
He said that some time after closing time he saw Alex Deady punch a (named teenager). Ryan said that he didn’t want to get involved. Shortly afterwards, he spotted Alex Deady and the older of the juveniles on trial.
They both had golf clubs. He said that they were accompanied by a third younger teenager.
Alex Deady and the 17-year-old accused have pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter. The 16-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The trial will continue on Thursday in front of a jury of seven women and five men.
It is expected to last several weeks.
