Court told of multiple stabs

The deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, told the Central Criminal Court trial of a man accused of murdering his parents…

The deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, told the Central Criminal Court trial of a man accused of murdering his parents that the bodies of the couple were found at their home "badly decomposed". Mr John Francis Dolan (27), of Ravensdale Road, East Wall, Dublin, denies that between June 16th and 19th, 1999, he murdered Mrs Gertrude Dolan (56) and her husband, John (71), at the family home.

Dr Cassidy said yesterday she saw the bodies of a man and a woman lying on top of one another in the front room. She identified the couple by their dental records as Mr and Mrs Dolan.

She said Mr Dolan had suffered three stab wounds. He had a "moderately high level of alcohol" in his blood. Dr Cassidy said Mrs Dolan was "considerably intoxicated" at the time of her death. She had four stab wounds.

The case continues.