This article is from page 4 of the 2007-04-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
PATRICK O’Dwyer drank a concoc- tion of alcohol at a party at his home just two days before he killed his sis- ter, the trial heard.
Marguerite organised a party at her parents’ house, just two nights before her death.
Patrick O’Dwyer told gardai that his sister initially invited a few friends to the house on the Saturday night, but up to 25 people attended, eight of whom stayed overnight.
He said that the party had been planned for a while. There was an assortment of drink at the house, he said.
The accused told gardai that he had four cans of cider, two cans of Red Bull with a full bottle of vodka, a mixture of shots in a pint glass, fol- lowed by other shots, all in the space of about an hour.
Asked by gardai was it normal for him to drink that amount of alcohol, he replied, “No.”
He said that some of his sister’s
friends smoked joints, but he didn’t take drugs.
He said that somebody wanted him to go to a birthday party. He passed out on the way there and fell and hit his head at around 10.30pm. He didn’t make it to the party.
One of his friends later gave out to him about his excessive drink- ing. His friend told him that when he goes out, he did so with the intention of getting drunk fast and not gradu- MUA
The accused said he told his friend
he was going to give up drink until Oi tetiaeerky
The day after the party — Sunday — Marguerite went to work in Lahinch. Patrick took paracetamol and later spoke to his parents on the phone.
Marguerite arrived home from work that evening. The accused was asked by gardai did she give out to him about his drinking and was told that she didn’t.
“She just told me she never saw me as bad. Everyone said that. I was mad with myself,” he said.