‘No forensic evidence’ behind prosecution case

DEFENCE counsel for John O’Brien Paddy McCarthy told the jury that no forensic evidence had been found in either the house or in O’Brien’s car that would suggest he had anything to do with killing his wife.

Mr McCarthy said the prosecution case required them to ignore their duty to presume his client’s innocence.

He said that the gardaí had clung to a false presumption that the only way O’Brien’s DNA could have got into the boot of his wife’s car was when he cut away a heavily bloodstained section and this had poisoned their approach towards his client.