Meg’s daughter seeks share in house

MEG WALSH told her husband she wouldn’t make a formal complaint to gardaí after he assaulted her if he signed their home over to her, a court heard yesterday.

She also told a garda whom she informed of the assault that she couldn’t afford to leave her husband, John O’Brien, for at least another 12 months and took steps with her solicitor, bank manager and an accountant to have the house and mortgage put solely into her name.

The claims were made during a civil case taken by Ms Walsh’s daughter, Sasha Keating, against Mr O’Brien in relation to the couple’s house in Waterford city.

Ms Keating, aged 21, is seeking a one-third share of the property at 19 Dunavarra, Ballinakill Downs, Waterford, from the estate of Meg Walsh, who went missing on October 1, 2006, and was found dead in the River Suir two weeks later.

Mr O’Brien was later charged with his wife’s murder but found not guilty on a unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in 2008.

Waterford Circuit Court heard yesterday that Mr O’Brien assaulted his wife on September 20, 2006. He told gardaí early in October, during the investigation into her disappearance, that he “lost it” after they were arguing and she was screaming, and “hit her on the head, the back of the head, with my fists”.

Detective Inspector John Hunt, who interviewed Mr O’Brien at the time, read from a statement in which he said that, on the day after the row, he “pleaded for forgiveness” and told her it wouldn’t happen again.

Ms Walsh told him to “prove it” and said she wanted her name only on the deeds of the house. He said, “if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it”. She also agreed not to pursue any case seeking a protection order or barring order against him, the court was told.

Ms Walsh visited a GP on September 22 — two days after the assault — and had injuries to her arms, shoulders and hands. She told gardaí of the incident that same day. Sergeant Eric Gavigan said yesterday that she told him “she was not in a position to leave him [John O’Brien] for 12 months. Maybe then she could afford it.”

Ms Walsh’s solicitor, Gerard O’Herlihy, gave evidence of meeting her on September 25 and writing a letter to Mr O’Brien. This letter stated that Mr O’Brien had “viciously assaulted” his wife and “terrorised” her, putting her “in fear of her future”.

Mr O’Brien was present in court yesterday with members of his family.

Sasha Keating was also present and briefly took the witness stand to confirm she was Meg Walsh’s only child from Ms Walsh’s first marriage to Colman Keating.

She was not related to Mr O’Brien and lived in Ballyhooly, Co Cork, with her father.

Judgment in the case will be delivered by Judge Olive Buttimer at a later date yet to be confirmed.