The jurors in the murder trial of an Offaly man have retired to consider one of three verdicts open to them.
Ross Allen of Kilmonaghan Lodge in Clara has pleaded not guilty to murdering Christy Daly, whose body was found in a ditch in January 2014.
The father of 8 was beaten and shot several times.
Gardai believe it happened on December 29th 2013, but it was January 7th 2014 before his body was found in a drain near his burnt out caravan at Bog Road in Kilbride which is just outside Clara in Co. Offaly.
Ross Allen was one of two men arrested the following month.
The murder charge against the other man was dropped last week.
The prosecution believes the 48-year-old was killed after taking a bag of drugs that were allegedly left in a laneway near his home by the accused.
Mr. Allen, whoÂ’s 25, is alleged to have made certain admissions to Gardai about his involvement in a situation that led to two assassins being brought down from Dublin.
The jurors were sent out to begin their deliberations just after 3 this afternoon and were told they could consider the lesser charge of manslaughter.
