Jury hears of DNA link to accused

“A spectacular breakthrough” led to the DNA of two women, found dead at their sheltered accommodation in Grangegorman 18 years ago, being found on the jacket of a man on trial accused of their murder, a trial has heard.

Mark Nash, aged 42, who has last addresses at Prussia St and Clonliffe Rd in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Sylvia Shields, aged 60, and Mary Callanan, and 61.

Mr Nash is charged with the murders of the women, who lived in a house attached to St Brendan’s Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman, Dublin 7, between March 6 and March 7, 1997.