A woman who was on a first date with a man who died following a fatal assault thought it was "only messing" when a 32-year-old man and her date were speaking outside the bar.
The woman was giving evidence on day two of the trial of Gerard Melia, Derrygowna, Lanesboro, who has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Noel McGann on August 1st 2019.
The Boyle resident met Mr McGann on a dating site just a few days previous to August 1st and had agreed to meet him in Foigha for a 'first date'.
She told Longford Circuit Court, sitting in Mullingar, that she recalled seeing the 50-year-old getting off his seat after Mr Melia had asked him outside.
Giving evidence, "She said to him: 'Oh, you're in trouble now'," adding she thought the encounter between the pair was "only messing".
As she looked on at the duo from inside, she said she saw "a bit of finger wagging" before seeing Mr Melia hitting out at Mr McGann as he fell to the ground.
When asked by counsel for the defence, Brendan Grehan, if the finger pointing had come from Mr McGann and not the accused, Ms Maughan replied: "It could have been."
Earlier a friend of the 32-year-old told of how the pair had not been in "good contact" in the months leading up to the incident.
Acting state pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan also outlined that the 50 year old died as a result of a traumatic head injury after a fall and there was no contributory factors.
The post mortem also revealed bleeding and swelling on the brain and a skull fracture.
On day two of the trial the owner of Leavy's pub gave evidence that Noel McGann had been refused service for a period after a dispute with his brother in the bar "sometime back".
Jimmy Leavy said the 50-year-old had contacted him in the spring of 2019 to see if he could be allowed drink in the pub again.
Mr. Leavy said he contacted Noel McGann's brother before allowing him to be served again.
He said the dead man had "a bit of an attitude" and could be "belittling" and "awkward" but was not violent.
He also said that he knew Gerard Melia was very well liked and as a talented footballer.
Jimmy Leavy told the court that he was in the shop adjoining the bar at the time of the confrontation between the accused and the deceased outside and after seeing Noel McGann on the ground he brought out towels to put under his head.
A witness who was outside when Mr McGann was struck said that he heard what sounded like "snoring" from the dead man.
The witness told the court that he had his back to both men when they came outside but claimed while he did not know the exact words used, their conversation was "not happy".
He said he turned around after he heard an impact on concrete and saw the deceased on the ground.
Moments later a man left and a woman came out to tend to Mr. McGann.
Other people present at the bar on the day gave evidence that they did not know of any previous disputes between Mr Melia and Mr McGann.
The trial continues in front of a jury of 11 after one juror was excused today as he was feeling unwell
