In the ongoing trial of Dolores O'Neill, the woman accused of killing her husband two years ago, the former State pathologist, Prof John Harbison, told the court yesterday that he detected at least 24 blows of a blunt instrument on the head of the deceased. Ms O'Neill (50) denies killing her 46-year-old husband, Declan O'Neill, on or around July 22nd 2002 at their home in Coolamber Park, Knocklyon in Dublin.
On the third day of the trial, Prof Harbison told the court the cause of death was "bruising and laceration of his brain, consistent with multiple hammer blows to the head". The jury of six men and six women heard evidence of a "large number of lacerations on the head" including one L-shaped laceration, which the professor said "could have resulted from eight different blows of a blunt instrument".
The former pathologist said there were fractures to the skull and the root of the eye-sockets, bleeding in the skull, in the membrane of the brain, between the brain and the skull and bruising of the brain. These injuries, allegedly from a hammer, resulted in death.
The court also heard of injuries from at least one other weapon. "I counted 21 knife injuries to his neck. The largest wound was five inches long. Injuries on the right side of the neck seem to be carved by a sharper, stiletto type weapon".
Prof Harbison expressed surprise that there were no injuries to the important arteries. The court was shown a kitchen knife, found bloodstained on the bed and a hammer, found in the shower tray of the en suite bathroom.
Under cross-examination by Mr Felix McEnroy SC, defending, Professor Harbison agreed all of the injuries were consistent with a frenzied attack. Professor Harbison also recalled that his attention was drawn to a blood-stained hand imprint on the deceased's right shoulder area.
Detective Sergeant Oliver Cloonan, who investigated the death, told the court, "I would be satisfied the victim did not move during the course of the assault" and said he did not see any sign of a struggle in the room. When asked by Mr McEnroy how he accounted for the clump of hair found in the deceased's hand, he replied, "I didn't see any hair."
Detective Garda John Higgins, who also worked on the case, told the court "every accessible surface" had blood on it. Under cross-examination, he admitted he had no knowledge of exactly how many people walked around the room before he arrived. He agreed that the forensic science laboratory, which usually carries out testing of footwear and footwear imprints, was not called in.
A top UK forensic expert, Ms Alison Duberry, later told the court it is "best practice" for forensic scientists to visit the scene as early as possible, adding this is the case throughout the UK. She also said that judging by the blood spattering that the attack probably took place from above the victim.
The trial continues today, Friday, before Mr Justice Paul Carney.