A CAR resembling the one belonging to Meg Walsh, whose husband is on trial for her murder, was seen travelling away from the quays in Waterford in the early hours of the day she was reported missing.
Her husband, bus driver John O'Brien (41), with an address at Ballinakill Downs, Co Waterford, denies murdering her on a date between October 1st, 2006, and October 15th, 2006.
The jury heard from a number of Garda witnesses who had analysed CCTV footage from over 100 cameras around Waterford city and county.
Det Garda Michael Burke told Dominic McGinn, prosecuting, that he had seen a silver Mitsubishi Carisma resembling Ms Walsh's car driving from the quays towards the Mall, heading out of town, at 12.52am.
The jury heard that Ms Walsh's car had several distinguishing features, including a sun roof, distinctive dark trimmings and alloy wheels.
Mr O'Brien's Mazda 323 was identified from its sun roof, the lowered visor on the driver's side and several stickers on the front window.
Garda Adrian Cullinane told Mr McGinn that he observed Mr O'Brien's Mazda 323 drive into the car park on the quays at 5.38pm on Sunday afternoon.
He saw Mr O'Brien get out of his car wearing a distinctive three-quarter length jacket with white stripes on the arm and walk towards the river.
He disappeared from view for two minutes, then reappears and walked back to the car, driving away seconds later towards home.
Mr O'Brien initially told gardaí that he had returned home at 5pm on Sunday where he had his final conversation with his wife.
Sgt Niall Cawley told Mr McGinn that he observed a car he believed to be Mr O'Brien's leaving the Tesco car park at 8.25pm on Monday, October 2nd. At approximately 9.05pm a silver Mitsubishi resembling Ms Walsh's car was seen leaving the car park.
The jury heard earlier in the trial that the Mitsubishi was abandoned in the car park of the nearby Uluru Pub at 10.03pm. Gardaí estimate that it took four minutes to walk from the Uluru car park to the Tesco car park. A car resembling Mr O'Brien's Mazda 323 was seen leaving the Tesco car park at 10.07pm.
The jury heard that his house alarm had been deactivated at 10.11pm.
Gardaí estimate the journey from the Tesco car park to Mr O'Brien's house would take four or five minutes in light or moderate traffic.
The jury also heard that gardaí had checked CCTV footage to corroborate the statement given by Owen Walsh.
Last week the jury heard that Mr O'Brien caught Mr Walsh kissing Ms Walsh after a night of drinking at their local bar at the Woodlands Hotel, the night before her disappearance.
Mr Walsh was observed going into a Londis shop in Ballinakill at about 8am on Sunday, October 1st. He had told gardaí he had called to the shop on his way home after Mr O'Brien had asked him to leave the house. Mr Walsh was also seen going into Tesco with his wife on Sunday evening at about 7pm, and also driving to his work at Waterford port on Monday, October 2nd.
He was also seen calling into a convenience store en route to work to buy a newspaper and some chewing gum. Det Garda Kevin Nolan told Mr McGinn that these sightings were in line with what he had told gardaí.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Barry White and the jury of seven men and five women.