The State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, told a jury in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court yesterday that injuries inflicted on the deceased suggested he was kicked and bludgeoned before being shot.
In cross-examination, Dr Harbison told the court he found "truncheon-type injuries" as well as what could be a shoe imprint on the back of the deceased.
Mr Joseph Delaney (54), formerly of La Rochelle, Naas, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Mark Dwyer (23) on or about December 14th, 1996. He has also denied imprisoning Mr Dwyer and detaining him against his will at Foster Terrace, Ballybough, Dublin, on December 14th, 1996.
The prosecution says that Mr Dwyer was shot dead after being tortured in a revenge killing after 40,000 ecstasy tablets went missing. Dr Harbison told the court Mr Dwyer died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Det Garda Michael Keating, a ballistics expert, told the court that after inspecting the home of Mr Mark Dwyer, in Foster Terrace, Dublin, he noticed the cover of a cushion on the settee of the living-room had been removed.
He said the floral patterns of the cover found over the head of the deceased and the pattern on a duvet cover at the deceased man's home were the same. The case resumes today.