MURDER CASE

Man accused of stabbing brother-in-law to death in front of wife shouted ‘he had it coming for 20 years’

Andrew ‘Andy’ Cash of Highrath, Clara, Co Kilkenny, is accused of the murder of John Cash, 40, at Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on May 3, 2022.

• Paul Neilan

• Published: 16:38, 3 Nov 2023
• Updated: 16:38, 3 Nov 2023

A MAN who is accused of stabbing his brother-in-law to death in broad daylight in front of his wife shouted “he had it coming for 20 years” in the presence of gardaí attending the scene, a murder trial has been told.

Andrew ‘Andy’ Cash of Highrath, Clara, Co Kilkenny, is accused of the murder of John Cash, 40, at Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on May 3, 2022.

Mr Cash, 30, a father-of-three, is also accused of assault causing harm to his sister, Elizabeth Cash, who is John Cash’s wife, and of the production of a knife during the course of a dispute or fight at the same date and location.

Mr Cash has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

In his opening speech today at the Central Criminal Court, Michael Delaney SC, prosecuting, said the jury will hear that on May 3, 2022, at around 12.30pm, Andrew Cash stabbed his brother-in-law, causing John Cash fatal injuries on the outskirts of Kilkenny City.

Mr Delaney said John Cash was 40 years-old and in “good health” at the time of his death and had lived with his wife and children.

Counsel said there was a “certain history between the accused and his brother-in-law and the accused appears to have been of the view that John Cash had an extra marital affair or affairs”.

Mr Delaney told the jury: “Whether that was the case is neither here nor there – this goes to Andrew Cash’s state of mind and to the question of motive.”

In outlining the prosecution’s case surrounding the events of May 3, 2022, Mr Delaney a “physical altercation” took place between the two men and that Andrew Cash was the aggressor.

It is alleged that the accused struck John Cash several times, causing him to collapse. Gardai later recovered a small steak knife.

Elizabeth Cash hailed down a Garda vehicle which was on patrol and gardaí attended to John Cash while Andrew Cash was still on the scene shouting “you have been riding other women” and that John Cash “had it coming for 20 years”, said counsel.

Mr Delaney said gardaí then arrested Andrew Cash under suspicion of assault causing harm but the accused continued to shout abuse at John Cash.

Cause of death recorded as an 8cm deep stab wound to the left of his chest, penetrating the heart.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of seven men and five women and is expected to last for two weeks.