Son had little contact with mother prior to death

THE son of Evelyn Joel said he had seldom spoken to his mother in the months leading to her death.

Liam Joel told the second day of the trial of Mrs Joel’s daughter, Eleanor, aged 37, and her partner Jonathan Costen, aged 39, of 37 Cluain Dara, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, told Wexford Circuit Criminal Court that he had seldom seen his mother in the three years prior to her death.

Eleanor Joel and Costen have pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing by neglect and reckless endangerment of Evelyn Joel, between December 1, 2005, and January 7, 2006.

Mr Joel told the court that his mother and father Billy Joel split when he was about 13 years of age, adding that it was his sister, Eleanor, who would have remained in contact with his mother.

Mr Joel told Rosario Boyle, defending Eleanor Joel, that his mother would have taken Eleanor from the house on a number of occasions to live with her (Eleanor’s) sister in England and her sister in Wexford town. She would also have taken Eleanor to live with her grandmother in Enniscorthy, all because of the difficulties between his father and mother, which would be related to alcohol on his father’s part.

He said that a relationship developed between Alfie Joel, his father’s brother, and Evelyn Joel. She would have gone off with him in or about 1999 but the relationship would have started about three years previously, after which his mother and Alfie would have lived in both Dublin and Arklow.

He also said he did not get on with his mother and did not visit her while staying with Alfie in Slaney Park, Enniscorthy.

“Later I would have had some contact, but it did not last. The last contact I had with her was about three years before she died.

“My mother and father were also related in some way but I can not give the exact relationship. I spoke a few words to Eleanor at the funeral and she was sad and upset. Eleanor also told the gardaí that it was her partner Jonathan that was keeping her going.

“It was not until I heard on TV and radio how bad the situation was in the house. I have not spoken to Eleanor since.”

Laura Kavanagh, partner of Liam Joel, told of visiting the house in 37 Cluain Dara in 2005 prior to her son’s Communion. She told of there being a smell in the house, and of dinner plates and beer cans in the room on the floor. It was in or around 2004 that she found out that Mrs Joel had multiple sclerosis.

“When I visited her in hospital all I could see was her head. Her eyes were back in her head,” she said.

David Connolly, nephew of Evelyn Joel, told the court of being the godfather to Eleanor’s son.

“In November 2005, I called to the house in 37 Cluain Dara with a Christmas present for my godson. When I went to the door the first thing I noticed was the smell. I had a conversation with Eleanor about Alfie.”

Replying to Ms Boyle, he said this was in May 2005, which was the last time he saw Mrs Joel. At the time the state of the house was messy and dirty.

Margaret Thomas, sister of Evelyn Joel, told of having got a phonecall from her sister in early December 2005, when she noticed that she did not sound herself, her speech was slurred and she sounded depressed. She said she was still upset over Alfie’s death while also saying she was unable to go to the funeral, adding “how could I?”

Dermot O’Brien, who was employed as a porter technician at Wexford General Hospital, said that when he went to the bathroom to assist in the washing of Mrs Joel, he found her hair was matted and dirty and her nails were dirty.

“When myself and Carmel Watchorn, the acting nursing manager, tried to wash her, she was unable to stand. She was underweight and a really dirty colour.

“While washing her, I noticed marks under her arms and thighs, breaks in the skin. She made no verbal communication but when her legs were moved she was moaning. The process lasted about 15 minutes.

“When we finished the bath water was a brown colour, but I was concentrating on the washing. The water was dirty.”

Margaret Doyle, a nurse in the intensive care unit at Wexford General, told of taking pictures of Mrs Joel on the instructions of Dr Colm Quigley. The pictures in the booklet before the court showed pressure sores to her legs, foot and back.

The trial continues tomorrow.