Inquests on murder victims adjourned

Inquests into the death of two middle-aged women found murdered in sheltered accommodation at Grangegorman on March 7th, 1997…

Inquests into the death of two middle-aged women found murdered in sheltered accommodation at Grangegorman on March 7th, 1997, were opened and adjourned yesterday.

The bodies of Ms Mary Callinan (61) and Ms Sylvia Shields (57) were discovered at 6.05 a.m. at their home at Orchard View, Grangegorman, Dublin.

A post-mortem examination by the State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, showed that Ms Callinan died of haemorrhage and airway obstruction due to a wound to the throat.

Ms Shields's death was caused by a stab wound in the aorta, the main artery of the heart.

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Both women had been patients at St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital and were living in sheltered accommodation beside the hospital.

Insp Tom O'Grady of the Bridewell Garda station told the inquest that criminal proceedings had begun in the case of Miss Callinan and proceedings might be instituted in the case of Ms Shields. He asked that the inquests be adjourned.

The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, adjourned Ms Callinan's inquest sine die and that on Ms Shields to September 14th next.