Accused in Joel case told gardaí he ‘was sorry’

THE trial into the death of Evelyn Joel heard one of the accused told gardaí “he was sorry for what happened to Evelyn”.

Detective Sergeant, Terri Butler, of Enniscorthy Garda Station told Wexford Circuit Criminal Court yesterday he wrote down the statement of Jonathan Costen while they were in a patrol car which was been driven by Det Garda Martin Brauders to Enniscorthy Garda Station.

Jonathan Costen said: “I am sorry for what happened Evelyn. For my part she was neglected by both of us. This neglect went on for two to three weeks. She was not cleaned nor was her bed. I don’t know about food.”

Eleanor Joel and Jonathan Costen, of 37 Cluain Dara, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, have pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing by neglect and reckless endangerment of Evelyn Joel between December 1, 2005, and January 6, 2007.

On the fourth day of the trial, Det Sergt Butler told of having obtained a search warrant to search 37 Cluain Dara, Enniscorthy. Entry was gained through the front door while the warrant was produced to both Eleanor Joel and Jonathan Costen. No seizures were made, he said.

He also told the court of having interviewed Jonathan Costen on January 13, 2006, at 37 Cluain Dara, with the statement having been written up by Det Garda Martin Brauders. Further interviews were carried out with medical personnel.

Both of the accused, he said, were arrested on January 30, 2006, and brought to Enniscorthy Garda station, where both were interviewed. It was during the journey to the Garda Station that Jonathan Costen made his statement in the car in the company of himself (Det Butler) and Det Brauders. They were the only three people in the car.

During the course of an interview, Det Butler said Jonathan Costen admitted taking the phone from Evelyn when she was ringing the gardaí and broke the phone. The accused told him: “I had drink taken and broke the phone against the wall. Evelyn did not say anything to me. She did not speak for a couple of days.”

Sarah Cullen, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit of Wexford General Hospital in 2006 gave evidence of carrying out a medical assessment of Evelyn Joel.

Evelyn Joel, she said, had extensive pressure sores, while her mouth was clenched. Drips were applied to provide antibiotics and other drugs. She was given about two litres of fluid every two hours.

The trial continues.