Family's attitude during inquiry recalled

“THE JUDGE is after having a pop at me. . . I’m fuming.”

Mary Mahon, mother of Melissa Mahon, made clear her anger at Mr Justice Barry White when she spoke to reporters outside his court yesterday.

“From day one I reported that Ronnie Dunbar had my daughter. . . she never left Sligo since the day she came here, she died here.” Apparently “the judge reckons that I didn’t help but I did”, she said.

Earlier inside the packed courtroom, there was an intake of breath as Mr Justice White referred to the victim impact statement by Mrs Mahon as “disingenuous in the extreme”.

He was speaking during the sentencing hearing of Ronald McManus (44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, who in May was found guilty of the manslaughter of Melissa Mahon (14) in 2006.

A large group of more than a dozen people, consisting of members of the Mahon family and friends, filled two benches towards the front of the court.

Melissa’s parents, Mary and Frederick, sat with their children. Melissa was the youngest of 10 children and among those present were Yvonne, Leanne, Anne-Marie, Mark, Anthony, Dean and Lisa.

Some of the siblings looked at McManus a number of times during the hearing; most looked ahead or kept their heads down.

Melissa’s sisters were visibly upset as the prosecution outlined the evidence. Some were red eyed as they held back the tears, one being comforted by her brother.

Melissa’s parents were more composed. Mary wiped her eye as the prosecution spoke about Melissa’s time in residential care.

Freddie Mahon placed both hands his over his face as the prosecution recounted the evidence that as McManus had put her body into the boot of his car there was a “snapping sound”.

Ronald McManus sat to the side of the room.

His hair was closely shaven and some tattoos were visible under his shiny navy sports top. He remained still and expressionless for most of the hearing. Prosecution counsel Isobel Kennedy SC finished a synopsis of the evidence and was about to read the victim impact statement when the judge interjected.

He asked her to remind the court of the “attitude displayed” by the Mahon family during the early stages of the investigation.

Mr Justice White said he had read the statement which was “disingenuous in the extreme”.

Det Insp John O’Reilly said the family had refused to make statements early on because Melissa had been in the care of the HSE.

The judge pressed the prosecution to recall what the family had said about Melissa going to England.

Insp O’Reilly explained that Mary Mahon had told gardaí that a third party had informed her that Melissa was in England.

When Ms Kennedy asked if she could read out the statement, Mr Justice White said: “I can’t prevent you.”

She quickly read the short victim impact statement on behalf of Mary Mahon.

“The whole thing had an emotional effect on my entire family both in England and Ireland. My whole life is gone. She was my baby.

“My whole life has been torn apart for the loss of our baby Melissa,” the statement said.

Ms Mahon was “very depressed” and “tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose of tablets” but was saved by her husband, the court heard.

Her second youngest daughter, Leanne, who was closest in age to Melissa, had on a number of occasions tried to take an overdose and had slashed her arms.

Another daughter, Yvonne, had also “slashed herself on the arms but did not attend a doctor”, the statement read.

Mr Justice White said he needed time to consider the sentence and adjourned sentencing until Friday morning.