A garda sergeant told the Ana Kriegel murder trial that he noticed a “look” between the two accused boys and he realised at that point “something was wrong”.
Sgt Aonghus Hussey told the Central Criminal Court this morning that he and his colleague Sgt John Dunne were talking to Boy A and Boy B at Saint Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin.
As the officers were discussing with the boys, who were accompanied by their parents, where they had last seen Ana, there was a moment when gardai decided to separate them.
Sgt Hussey told the court: “We were trying to establish movements, there seemed to be confusion.
“I saw a look given between Boy A and Boy B I wasn’t happy with. I felt there was something wrong.
“I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t recount the movements so we decided to split up the boys.”
He accompanied Boy A and spoke to him.
Boy A claimed to the Sergeant that he had been assaulted by two men in the park, the court heard.
Sgt Hussey said he told Boy A that he would address this alleged assault at a later date as his primary concern was for the safety of Ana.
He said that he noticed that Boy A was limping and carrying his arm.
Sgt Hussey said that a decision was taken to take statements from both boys.
He took a statement at Leixlip Garda Station from Boy B, in the company of his mother.
A second garda, Detective Garda John O’Keefe, took a statement from Boy A in the company of his father.
Sgt Hussey said that Boy B said during this statement that Ana was “chatty” and asked why Boy A wanted to see her.
Boy B said in the statement: “I will tell you when we get there.”
In the statement Boy B said he did not know what happened to Ana.
After the first statement was taken from both boys, the gardai spoke together and identified inconsistencies, the court heard.
When this was put to Boy B by Sgt Hussey, he said that the accused did not wish to change his statement and that his recollection was accurate.
Two teenage boys are charged with the murder of 14-year-old Anastasia Kriegel on May 14, 2018.
Both boys have pleaded not guilty to the murder.
One of the boys, Boy A, is also charged with aggravated sexual assault.
He denies this charge.
The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
