‘He asked me why I was there, why he could not be trusted on his own, whether they thought he would steal the tape recorder. He said he was bored answering the questions, that he wasn’t going to hang around much longer. That sort of thing.’

‘And you said nothing?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Indeed, did you really pay much attention to what was being said?’

‘I paid attention just in case he said something important. But there was nothing to make a note of, for example.’

‘Were you alone with Gallagher shortly before he was charged with murder?’

‘I was.’

‘Did he say something then?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did his demeanour change?’

‘He had been quite relaxed. Laid-back, I suppose. When the two CID officers left again he became quite agitated. He started to walk about the room. He began to mutter about the officers. He said they were stupid. They knew fuck all. He asked me if I agreed. The only time I spoke was to ask him to be patient. Then he became angry and shouted at me. He told me I was just a dummy standing there. That he was willing to bet I thought I was just as smart as the rest of them.’

‘What else did he say?’

‘He said, “Well, I’ll show you who the smart bastard really is. I gave Boyle what he deserved and neither you nor they wankers will ever prove it”.’

‘ “I gave Boyle what he deserved and neither you nor they wankers will ever prove it?” ’ Matthews enunciated the words slowly and deliberately to allow them to sink in and to maximise their effect.

‘Yes.’

‘What was your reaction to this?’

‘I could not believe it. I was in a bit of a panic, I suppose. I just did not know what to do.’

‘What did you do?’

Just after he said this, Superintendent McAllister came in to charge Mr Gallagher.’

‘What was Mr Gallagher’s demeanour when Mr McAllister came in?’

‘The instant the door opened he switched to being laid-back though he did blow up when he was charged.’

‘When did you report what had been said to you?’

‘When the accused was taken to be finger-printed.’

‘Who did you tell?’

‘The two officers who had been doing the interviewing. They told me to put it in a statement at once.’

‘Is there any doubt that Mr Gallagher said these words to you?’

‘No sir, none at all. He said it.’

Matthews sat down.

Muirhead glanced at the jury as he prepared to cross-examine. Once again he could feel a number of icy stares emanating from them.

‘It would seem, constable, that Mr Gallagher confessed to you, confessed to murder, indeed.’

‘I thought so.’

‘Why do you think he wanted to confess to you?’

‘You better ask him, sir, with respect.’

‘No, I’m asking you.’

‘I don’t know. I repeat, ask him.’

‘The two of you were alone when this was said?’

‘When what was said?’