Gardai explain why State Pathologist started examination hours later

Pathology examination: Gardaí explained yesterday why the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, started her examination of Robert Holohan's body 22 hours after it was first discovered

The head of the Garda Press Office, Supt Kevin Donohoe, said Dr Cassidy's preliminary examination of the scene could not have begun any earlier. He said light faded quickly on Wednesday evening at the spot where the 11-year-old's body was found.

Dr Cassidy did not travel to Cork on Wednesday. Instead she travelled from Dublin yesterday morning. She began her examination of the remains at the scene near Inch beach just before 12 noon yesterday. "It was decided that it was prudent to leave the body at the scene and protected overnight," Supt Donohoe said. "At first light Garda technical experts and forensic science experts resumed the examination of the scene. By that stage Dr Cassidy was en route."

He said the Garda examination of the scene continued until the senior technical bureau officer gave permission for Dr Cassidy to enter the site and carry out her preliminary on-site examination.

Dr Cassidy worked at the scene for a short time before Robert's body was removed by hearse for a post-mortem which took place yesterday at Cork University Hospital. Gardaí then resumed their examination of the undergrowth.

"We are very conscious of the sensitivities involved, it was a tough call to make but it was the right call," Supt Donohoe said. He added that the Garda examination of the scene was a separate operation to the examination of Robert's remains.

Dr Cassidy could not have begun her work until gardaí had completed any work they needed to do while the remains still lay at the scene.

Dr Cassidy is one of two pathologists employed full-time by the State - through the Department of Justice's State Pathology Service - to carry out post-mortems on the remains of those whose deaths are regarded as suspicious. The Deputy State Pathologist is Dr Michael Curtis.

The State has also retained the services of a small number of other pathologists on a case-by-case contract basis in the past. These are called upon only when needed.